Corinthians midfielder slams club’s use of star players’ image

In partnership with

Central do Timão

·18 November 2025

Corinthians midfielder slams club’s use of star players’ image

By Fabio Luigi / Central do Timão Editorial Team

In recent weeks, former midfielder Bruno Otávio, who was developed in the Corinthians youth system, gave an exclusive interview to Central do Timão. Among the various topics discussed, he criticized how clubs today do not know how to leverage the image of their main assets: their players.

When addressing the issue, Bruno Otávio mentioned Corinthians and used the example of the team's three main players today: midfielder Rodrigo Garro and forwards Yuri Alberto and Memphis Depay. He believes that the Alvinegro does not know how to leverage the image of the trio in a way that values the players off the field as well, such as by actively participating in some social actions.

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Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

“I think clubs, including Corinthians, use their athletes very poorly. If you compare and engage in exchanges, I had this perception a lot in the United States. There, what they manage to capture in terms of resources, marketing, vision, education for the club, for the jersey they are wearing, is absurd. If you took a Memphis, a Garro, a Yuri and had them do projects, you can say, social, but also social causes. Wait, take them to give talks, to a community or schools. Take them to a hospital, to encourage people who are bedridden and a saddened family.”

“Just seeing an idol will already give strength, if not help chemically. Use the athlete to their fullest potential, not just for criticism. Here in Brazil, we only put the athlete on display, and usually in defeat. In victory, everyone wants their own space, enjoys it their own way, but clubs do not use their athlete,” he began.

He then emphasized the same example for former players who become idols at various clubs, focusing on Corinthians: “They do not use their former athlete. All athletes have a historic Corinthians and this guy only plays in festive matches. They only use him in that sense. Where is this guy in schools? Where are these guys in companies? Talking about their life story. Bringing a real contribution. It's the club's heritage, man. After all, I might not even be able to enter to watch training. The player who is not going to the game, can't he do the tour with a group? The athlete who is in the museum there. The year I played, take a look at this, how the locker room was, how it was at that time, chat with a regular fan,” he added.

Bruno Otávio was developed in the Corinthians youth categories and made his debut for the club on July 4, 2004, at the age of 18, when the Alvinegro was defeated by Santos, 3 x 2, in that year's Brazilian Championship, at Pacaembu. That day, he started the classic match as a starter.

The following year, he actively participated in the campaign for the 2005 Brasileirão title (fourth title), in a team that included Nilmar, Carlitos Tévez, Fábio Costa, Roger, among others. In 2009, he left Parque São Jorge and was loaned to Figueirense. In 2010, he returned from loan and did not have space with coach Mano Menezes, being loaned to Bahia.

At the beginning of the following year, he returned to Corinthians and managed to play one match – his last for the club – in a Corinthians victory by 2 x 0 in a friendly against Grêmio Osasco, away from home in September 2011. After leaving Parque São Jorge, he went through Paulista, Grêmio Barueri, and Marcílio Dias, from Santa Catarina.

In total, he provided one assist and did not score any goals in 107 matches for Corinthians (49 wins, 29 draws, and 29 losses – almost 55% success rate). He won three titles with the Corinthians jersey: Brasileirão (2005) and Série B (2008) and Campeonato Paulista (2009).

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