Corinthians return to the Maracanã after title, amid contrasts | OneFootball

Corinthians take the field on Wednesday night at 9:30 p.m. to face Fluminense at the Maracanã in the ninth round of the Brazilian Championship. The match marks the club’s return to the stadium where it won its fourth Copa do Brasil title last December.

Since that triumph, however, the landscape at Parque São Jorge has undergone several changes, both on and off the pitch. Changes in the football department, a squad overhaul, and inconsistent performances have transformed the team’s situation just a few months after the title.

Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Ag. Corinthians

One of the first changes came in the football administration structure. Just two days after the title win, on December 23, the club announced the departure of Fabinho Soldado from the role of executive director of men’s football. Although he was well regarded internally by the coaching staff and squad, especially for his work at the Dr. Joaquim Grava training center, the executive faced resistance among board members, who questioned his salary and linked him to the previous administration under Augusto Melo.

A replacement came quickly. On December 27, Corinthians agreed to sign Marcelo Paz, then CEO of Fortaleza’s SAF, to take over the position. He was officially introduced to the squad when the group returned on January 3 and took charge of the department.

Since then, Paz has worked mainly on administrative and financial reorganization. His arrival coincided with a period of internal adjustments, including the settlement of outstanding issues. One example was the payment of the debt owed to Santos Laguna for the signing of Félix Torres, made on January 9, which lifted a FIFA-imposed transfer ban from the club. The board adopted a more cautious approach in the market, prioritizing financial balance and avoiding spending on transfer fees.

Even so, new concerns emerged. In a recent ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Corinthians were ordered to pay around R$7.2 million to Shakhtar Donetsk related to the loan of midfielder Maycon. However, the club quickly settled the matter to avoid another transfer ban.

There were also major changes in the squad. In total, 11 players left the club in the last transfer window, through contract terminations, loans, and expiring deals. The movement had a direct impact on the wage bill, with estimated savings of around R$1.5 million per month.

Among the permanent departures were Héctor Hernández, who terminated his contract to join Gil Vicente, and Fagner, who also left the club. Other players were loaned out, such as Félix Torres (Internacional), Diego Palacios (Universidad Católica), Ryan (Fortaleza), Cacá (Vitória), and Matheus Donelli, who is close to joining Shabab Al-Ahli. Meanwhile, Maycon, Talles Magno, and Ángel Romero did not have their contracts renewed.

One of the most delicate cases involved midfielder José Martínez. The player returned more than a month late and already carrying an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his right knee, which could rule him out for the entire season. The situation caused internal discomfort and ended in an amicable termination at the end of February. Under the agreement, Corinthians will cover 30% of the player’s wages through December, as well as the surgery costs, not including his January salary.

With the transfer ban lifted, the club returned to the market cautiously. In all, seven players arrived, with a focus on opportunities that did not require a transfer fee. The only exception was midfielder Matheus Pereira, signed on loan from Fortaleza for R$1.8 million.

Among the free signings, Corinthians brought in Gabriel Paulista, Pedro Milans, Zakaria Labyad, and Jesse Lingard. Allan, Matheus Pereira, and Kaio César also arrived on loan, all with purchase options. Of those names, only Gabriel Paulista has managed to establish himself as a starter, while the others have played more limited roles. Lingard, in fact, could make his debut this Wednesday against Fluminense.

At the same time, the club also secured Fabrizio Angileri’s stay by renewing his contract in February after lengthy negotiations. In the final stretch of the window, Corinthians also tried to sign Arthur Cabral and Renê, but without success. Other talks, such as with João Ricardo and Alisson, did not move forward for medical and financial reasons, respectively.

On the pitch, one name that has taken center stage is midfielder André Luiz. A product of the youth academy, the player took advantage of the squad changes and established himself as an important piece, appearing in 16 of the team’s 19 matches this season and scoring two goals. His performances drew attention from the European market, with Milan even submitting a €17 million offer, which was rejected by the board.

Despite the movement, performances on the field have been inconsistent. After winning the Copa do Brasil on December 21, the squad had a short break and returned on January 3. The start of the 2026 season was positive, with a 3-0 win over Ponte Preta.

Over the first few months, however, the team ran into difficulties. Even with the Supercopa do Brasil title, won after beating Flamengo, the level dropped. The team alternated results in the Paulista and the Brasileirão, with defeats, draws, and eliminations increasing the pressure.

The last victory came against Athletico-PR in the second round of the Brasileirão. Since then, Corinthians have drawn against Portuguesa, Cruzeiro, Santos, Chapecoense, and Flamengo, in addition to losses to Coritiba and Novorizontino, the latter resulting in their elimination from the state championship.

In total, the team has played 19 matches this season, with seven wins, seven draws, and five losses, along with 20 goals scored and 15 conceded, resulting in a 49.12% success rate.

Given this scenario, the clash against Fluminense takes on even greater importance. In addition to the search for crucial points in the table, the match could represent a turning point for Corinthians, who are trying to end their negative run and regain confidence as the season progresses.

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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.