Corinthians president: Keeping squad for 2026 is top priority

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Central do Timão

·3 February 2026

Corinthians president: Keeping squad for 2026 is top priority

By Mirella Ramos / Central do Timão Editorial Team

The president of Corinthians, Osmar Stabile, once again commented on the club's strategy in the transfer market and stated that the main priority of the board is to preserve the current squad for the 2026 season. In an interview with the program De Primeira, from UOL Esporte, the executive highlighted the financial limitations faced by Timão and advocated for a more cautious approach to signings.

“I think the big signing for Corinthians is to keep the stars we already have here. We are going through financial difficulties, so much so that the players we have been bringing in are those for whom we don’t have transfer fees to pay, because Corinthians needs to put a stop to the spending that has accumulated over the years. Unfortunately, we’re in this situation now, we’ll suffer a bit for the time being, and we are indeed suffering, but we’ll smile in the future,” said Osmar.

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Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

After ending, at the beginning of January, the bans on registering players with the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and FIFA, Corinthians announced the signings of center-back Gabriel Paulista, right-back Pedro Milans, midfielder Matheus Pereira, and forward Kaio César. Even with European clubs showing interest in players from the squad, such as Yuri Alberto and Breno Bidon, Stabile reinforced that the club does not intend to exceed its financial limits in the current transfer window.

“This moment is obviously different, Corinthians is inexplicable, because with all the problems we are facing, we have just become champions twice, actually three times—Copa do Brasil champions, Paulista champions, and now Supercopa champions. So it’s important to say this to the fans, to everyone, that we will work within what is possible, within Corinthians’ capabilities. We will not do anything crazy,” he explained.

The more conservative policy adopted by the club is directly linked to outstanding financial issues. As previously reported, Corinthians is seeking to resolve a debt of approximately R$ 32 million with Talleres, from Argentina, related to the signing of midfielder Rodrigo Garro. The debt could result in a new transfer ban, and the club’s initial proposals were rejected, although negotiations are ongoing. Another situation involves the agreement with Toluca, from Mexico, for the signing of forward Pedro Raul, made in 2024.

“The big problem today is still the lack of money to meet those specific obligations. That is, paying for players signed in previous windows. The important thing is that we are negotiating with all of them. We managed to pay some, and others we are still negotiating with. So I believe that as soon as possible we will have an answer for this. Especially with Talleres, we are talking.”

“With Toluca, we are paying what we agreed with them, everything is up to date as well. The issue with Rojas has also been settled. We are working on all these processes. The most urgent thing now is to resolve the matter with Talleres, and we are working on it. You can be sure that soon we will resolve it,” Stabile added.

In addition to debts with foreign clubs, Corinthians is also working to settle the bonuses stipulated in the contract of forward Memphis Depay, which totaled R$ 23 million in December. With the conquest of the Supercopa do Brasil last Saturday, the player received R$ 4.7 million, an amount corresponding to about 40% of the total prize for the tournament. The president denied reports that the player would receive almost the entire amount raised and guaranteed full compliance with the contract.

“No, that’s not true. Some people are still talking about this issue, but it’s not true. Memphis has a contract and the entire contract will be fulfilled, as I said on the first day I gave an interview, the contract with Memphis, not just Memphis, but with all the players. We will comply with it to the letter,” he commented.

On the field, Corinthians will play again next Thursday (5th), when they face Capivariano at 8:30 pm (Brasília time), at Neo Química Arena, for the sixth round of the Campeonato Paulista.

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