Cuiabá president demands Raniele fee from Corinthians, slams Memphis deal | OneFootball

Corinthians’ financial situation once again became the target of criticism from Cuiabá president Cristiano Dresch. This Wednesday (23), the executive spoke about the amount the club from Mato Grosso is still owed from the Raniele deal and also questioned Timão’s decision to renew Memphis Depay’s contract.

In an interview with ESPN’s Fala a Fonte program, Dresch said that late payments from other clubs have a direct impact on Cuiabá’s finances. According to the executive, Dourado is owed approximately R$ 43 million by different teams and is facing difficulties with its own cash flow.

Photo: Reproduction / Instagram

In Corinthians’ case, the outstanding issue involves the signing of Raniele, completed in 2024. The matter was taken to the Brazilian Football Confederation’s National Chamber for Dispute Resolution (CNRD), which established a payment plan for approximately R$ 17.7 million in 24 installments. According to Dresch, an installment of R$ 800,000 that came due in July is still unpaid, while a new installment will come due in October.

“The CNRD set up a payment plan for Corinthians; in July, an installment of R$ 800,000 (for Raniele) came due, and now in October another one is due. There are still five years left until it is paid off. We are very worried. We are in the final stretch of the Série B season, trying to earn promotion, and these delays hurt us a lot.”

Next, the Cuiabá president showed pessimism about receiving the money and gave a critical assessment of the financial situations at Corinthians and Santos. The characterization of “bankruptcy” reflects Dresch’s opinion, not a formal declaration of insolvency by the clubs.

“We know a lot about what goes on behind the scenes at Corinthians. I think it’s very difficult for us to receive (the money). Yesterday the CNRD also ordered Santos to pay nearly R$ 19 million for Joaquim, but I also think it will be very difficult (to receive it). Corinthians and Santos are in a state of bankruptcy. And clubs that depend on this money, like Cuiabá, end up paying the price.”

Dresch links debt to Cuiabá’s financial difficulties

While explaining the effects of the outstanding debts, Dresch recalled the Raniele deal and mentioned the 2024 season. The executive also connected the amounts Cuiabá is owed to the club’s current difficulties in meeting its own obligations.

“Cuiabá’s case with Corinthians in 2024 was emblematic. They bought Raniele from us in 2024. We played Corinthians at their place and drew. In the second half of the season, they showed up in Cuiabá with a different team! With Memphis, etc. We lost at home... That’s not what got us relegated, but it was important.”

The president also said that Cuiabá is under a transfer ban and stated that the club already has the money needed to resolve the issue that caused the sanction. In his view, however, delays from other teams played a role in the deterioration of cash flow.

“Cuiabá today is under a transfer ban. We already have the money to pay, but why did we get there? Because these debts wrecked our cash flow. We have to find money any way we can, and that hurts us a lot. If I had a third of the money I’m owed, around R$ 12 million of those R$ 43 million, we would be in a different situation.”

Memphis renewal also criticized

In addition to the deal involving Raniele, Dresch commented on Memphis Depay’s contract renewal with Corinthians. The executive described both the initial agreement and the extension of the Dutch player’s deal as excessive and linked the decision to the financial and sporting situation the club is facing.

“I thought the renewal (of Memphis Depay with Corinthians) was absurd. Memphis’ initial contract was already absurd, and the renewal was absurd, but Corinthians had their hands tied... They were already under a transfer ban, they weren’t going to be able to sign anyone, so they had to renew. It’s administrative chaos. I know it’s difficult for a team the size of Corinthians.”

The statements reflect Dresch’s assessment of the decisions made by Corinthians. The Cuiabá executive is not part of Corinthians’ management.

President calls for tougher punishment for debtor clubs

Another point addressed during the interview was the creation of the National Agency for the Regulation and Sustainability of Football (Anresf). Dresch argued that the financial control system should adopt harsher measures against teams that fail to honor their commitments.

“This agency (for financial fair play) that the CBF created will start next year collecting debts incurred before 2026. It needs to start acting. Some will have to die, or enter a very difficult state, to save the whole.”

In the view of Cuiabá’s president, the transfer ban, which prevents the registration of new players under certain circumstances, would not be enough. He even defended the possibility of sporting punishments, such as points deductions.

“This problem exists because we live in a market without regulation and without punishment. The transfer ban today is proving insufficient. There needs to be points deductions. If Corinthians had been threatened with losing three points, that money would already have come from somewhere. Santos too. Vasco will stay in Série A through sporting fraud. It is bad for clubs like Mirassol, like Remo, which is fully up to date and is threatened with relegation.”

Dresch also mentioned other teams during his argument and questioned how clubs can continue strengthening their squads while they still owe money to rivals.

“How can a club [Santos] that owes Cuiabá R$ 18 million sign a player paying R$ 2 million per month? Names like Arthur, Cebolinha, who will make a difference in the standings. They went to Belém and beat Remo, they will stay in Série A. How do you think Mirassol feels? Vasco entered judicial recovery and stiffed people on a massive scale, Botafogo too. That’s unfair.”

The expressions “sporting fraud” and “stiffed people on a massive scale” are characterizations made by the Cuiabá president during the interview, not conclusions of this report.

Executive praises Stabile, but reinforces impact of the debt

Despite the criticism directed at Corinthians’ financial management, Cristiano Dresch made one qualification when speaking about Osmar Stabile. Cuiabá’s president said he considers the Corinthians chairman a serious person, but assessed that he took over the club while facing a major financial problem.

“Cuiabá’s payroll today is R$ 1.6 million per month. This money that would come to me is survival. I will always defend my club. I consider (Osmar) Stabile [Corinthians president] a serious person, but he took on a major problem.”

The charge related to Raniele, therefore, remains another financial issue involving Corinthians. According to the information Dresch gave ESPN, in addition to the July installment still being unpaid, the schedule set by the CNRD includes another due date in October.

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