Dinei backs Corinthians academy and calls for more chances for Gui Negão | OneFootball

Dinei, a former striker developed in Corinthians’ youth academy who played for the club between the 1990s and the early 2000s, gave an interview to Rádio Coringão and asked coach Fernando Diniz to give more opportunities to 19-year-old Gui Negão. The youngster has been overlooked in favor of Pedro Raul, who has not been performing since returning from a loan spell at Ceará at the start of 2026.

A product of Terrão, Gui Negão has not played since late March, when he suffered a grade 2 muscle injury in his right thigh during a Brazil U-20 training session in the March FIFA window. After recovering, he was called up again in early May, but he has still not taken the field since Dorival Júnior’s departure. According to reporting by Central do Timão, the lack of opportunities means a possible departure in this July transfer window is being viewed favorably.

Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

“I really like Fernando Diniz. But I think he has to give Gui Negão more chances than Pedro Raul. He’s an academy kid. Do you know what you’re doing? You’re increasing the value of a boy who came through the academy. If you’re going to play someone who doesn’t do a damn thing, then play Gui Negão. You’re increasing the value of an academy kid,” he said.

Gui Negão began receiving opportunities in Corinthians’ first team in mid-2025, when the team was managed by Dorival Júnior. At the time, Alvinegro had been punished with a FIFA transfer ban, meaning it was forbidden from registering new signings, in addition to injuries to Yuri Alberto and Memphis Depay, forcing the club to turn to players developed in the youth ranks.

At first, the youngster delivered standout performances, proving decisive for Corinthians in the Copa do Brasil quarterfinals against Athletico-PR, playing an important tactical role and also being useful to the team in Brazilian Championship matches. However, by the closing stretch of 2025, his performances dropped off and he started being used less. In 2026, for example, he has played 12 matches and scored just one goal.

In overall numbers, Gui Negão has six goals and two assists in 36 appearances for Timão, with 16 wins, four draws, and 14 losses – a 50% success rate. In addition, he has won two titles: the Copa do Brasil (2025) and the Supercopa do Brasil (2026), against Vasco da Gama and Flamengo, respectively. His contract runs until June 2030, with a domestic release clause of R$ 140 million and an international clause set at 100 million euros (approximately R$ 600 million at the current exchange rate).

Dinei’s career at Corinthians

In two spells at Corinthians (1990 to 1992 and 1998 to 2000), he scored 34 goals in 194 matches (91 as a starter), with 85 wins, 53 draws, and 56 losses – a 52.92% success rate. He also won the following titles: the Brazilian Championship (1990, 1998, and 1999), the Paulista Championship (1999), and the Club World Cup (2000).

Even without being an undisputed starter, he stood out for being decisive in bigger matches, as happened in the 1998 Brasileirão final against Cruzeiro, when he was involved in all of Timão’s goals in that decider.

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