Dorival’s starter Matheuzinho set for 100th appearance with Corinthians | OneFootball

A declared Corinthians fan, right-back Matheuzinho is about to reach a century milestone with his beloved club. If he takes the field this Sunday, against Grêmio, in the 31st round of the Brazilian Championship, the wingback will complete 100 matches for the club.

The expectation is that the player will start the match. A guaranteed starter under Dorival Júnior, Matheuzinho missed the last round for Timão due to suspension, but returns to face Grêmio in a game that could be special for his career.

“It’s very special. As everyone knows, this is the team I’ve loved since childhood. Playing a match for Corinthians was already very emotional for me. Reaching 100 games is something for the few. This is the result of my hard work, I’ve dedicated myself a lot and I’m honored to reach this milestone. It will be a special game, and I hope it comes with a victory,” the player told Corinthians TV.

Matheuzinho’s Journey at Corinthians

Matheuzinho’s early days at the club were turbulent. Corinthians wanted to sign him on loan from Flamengo and even had a verbal agreement, but the parties disagreed on some clauses and the deal fell through. However, the right-back even took part in an open training session with Timão during the negotiations.

The Parque São Jorge team announced they were pulling out, but days later resumed talks, this time aiming to buy him outright. The board at the time finally reached an agreement with Flamengo and announced the player’s signing in February 2024.

Initially, Matheuzinho was brought in to be a ‘backup’ for Fagner. He got a few chances as a starter over the past year, but took a while to convince. He only found his stride after coach Ramón Díaz arrived, earning a run in the starting eleven and establishing himself in the team for good.

(Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians)

Over these 99 matches, the wingback has found the net five times and provided six assists. This doesn’t include the state championship title this season over rivals Palmeiras.

Corinthians’ Next Match

G6 in Sight

Coming off two straight wins, Corinthians are aiming for a third to get closer to the fight for a spot in the 2026 Libertadores. The team is currently in tenth place on the table, with 39 points, eight points away from the G6, the same distance from the relegation zone.

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