Former Corinthians stars making headlines across continents | OneFootball

Former Corinthians players have stepped into the spotlight across continents for a variety of reasons in recent weeks, according to UOL and Globo.

In Italy, Ederson—who spent part of his early career at Corinthians—could be set for one of the summer’s biggest moves. Following Inter Milan’s 2-0 defeat to Fluminense in the Club World Cup, tensions around the squad have escalated, particularly with the potential departure of midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu. Inter are now targeting Ederson, currently at Atalanta, as their prime candidate to bolster the midfield.

Ederson has spent three seasons with Atalanta, having joined from Salernitana after his time at Corinthians and Fortaleza. Atalanta will reportedly demand around R$320 million for the 24-year-old, according to Mundo Deportivo. Ederson’s development has not gone unnoticed at home, either—Carlo Ancelotti included him in Brazil’s squad for the most recent international window, where the midfielder was an unused substitute in fixtures against Ecuador and Paraguay in the South American World Cup qualifiers.

The urgency at Inter is underlined not just by Calhanoglu’s possible exit—he missed the Club World Cup final due to injury—but also by public pronouncements from team leaders. Captain Lautaro Martínez delivered a blunt message in the aftermath of the Fluminense loss: “I want to fight for major titles. Whoever wants to stay at Inter, let’s fight together. Those who don’t, can leave. We need players who want to be here. We are wearing an important shirt and need a top-level mentality.” Club president Beppe Marotta also pointed to internal issues, explicitly naming Calhanoglu’s absence as a factor in the club's disappointment.

Meanwhile, in Asia, another former Corinthians striker has drawn attention—albeit in a rather different setting. Gustavo, widely known as Gustagol, is currently under contract with Shanghai Port in China. On holiday in southern Santa Catarina, he paid a visit to the training complex of Criciúma, the club that launched his professional career back in 2014. Gustagol took the opportunity to train there during his offseason.

The 31-year-old striker’s journey from Criciúma to Corinthians included notable spells at Bahia and Internacional. His 2019 season with Corinthians still stands out: 53 appearances, 14 goals, and 3 assists made him a reliable attacking option that year. Since moving to Shanghai Port in 2024, following a stint at Jeonbuk Motors in South Korea, Gustagol has continued to find the net frequently—registering 10 goals and 2 assists in 20 matches this year.

Both players—Ederson and Gustagol—highlight the diverse paths former Corinthians have taken abroad. While Ederson’s name circulates in discussions over big-money Serie A transfers and international call-ups, Gustagol has found stability and productivity in Asian football, continuing to leave his mark well beyond Brazil’s borders.

(Sources: UOL, Globo)

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