Gustavo Mantuan on Brazil dream, addresses Corinthians return talk | OneFootball

Developed in Corinthians’ youth academy and currently at Zenit, in Russia, Gustavo Mantuan continues building a new stage of his career away from Brazilian football. Now established as a right-back, the 25-year-old spoke about the position change, his desire to reach the Brazilian National Team, and the possibility of, in the future, wearing the black-and-white shirt again.

In an exclusive interview with ESPN, Mantuan said he is satisfied with his current moment in Russian football. The adaptation to right-back has also expanded the player’s goals, as he believes he has what it takes to get on the Brazilian National Team’s radar.

Photo: Rodrigo Coca / Ag. Corinthians

“Today I’m very happy here, establishing myself more and more as a right-back. Obviously, our biggest dream today is to reach the National Team, and I know I’m prepared for that. I’ve been showing over these years playing as a right-back that I’m ready, so now it’s about continuing to work and sticking to that plan.”

At Zenit itself, Mantuan has examples of players who managed to reach the Seleção even while playing in Russian football. One of them is Douglas Santos, who was called up for the last World Cup and finished Brazil’s campaign in the tournament among the starters.

For Mantuan, his teammate’s path shows that being far from Europe’s main football centers does not stop an athlete from earning a place in the National Team.

“A lot of people were doubtful, but I think he proved that it has nothing to do with that. He proved at the World Cup, the biggest competition every athlete wants to play in, that no matter where you are, if you’re prepared, there are no excuses. So I want to follow that same example and reach the Brazilian National Team.”

Another teammate mentioned during the interview was Luiz Henrique, who also made it to the World Cup while playing for Zenit. The forward has recently been linked with a possible return to Brazilian football, with speculation involving Flamengo, Botafogo, and Cruzeiro.

Mantuan revealed that he stays in frequent contact with the Brazilian and highlighted that the process of adapting to Russia does not happen the same way for every player. According to him, regardless of whatever future the forward chooses, Luiz Henrique is doing well at the club.

“We talk every day, and he’s happy. So regardless of what happens with him, he’ll definitely be fine. He’s a player with a lot of quality, we know that, and he’s already proved it in Brazil and with the National Team,” he said.

Position change began at Corinthians

Before definitively establishing himself as a right-back at Zenit, Mantuan had already tried the role during his time at Corinthians. In 2022, then-head coach Vítor Pereira used the player in that position during the 1-1 draw against São Paulo in the Brazilian Championship.

Over time, what initially appeared to be an alternative came to represent a new path for his career. Mantuan saw playing at full-back as a chance for growth and also as a way to increase his chances of reaching the Brazilian National Team.

“We know that, all over the world, it’s a position that really lacks high-quality players who can establish themselves. So it’s a very difficult position. That was one of the main reasons, because I saw a great possibility for me to grow in world football and also, of course, always aim for the Brazilian National Team.”

During his time with Corinthians’ first team, Mantuan worked with Vagner Mancini, Sylvinho, and Vítor Pereira. Despite spending less time with the Portuguese coach, the player believes the manager played an important role in his development because of the trust and opportunities he received.

“He was the coach who gave me the most opportunities, who taught me the most, who trusted me the most. So he was a guy who taught me a lot in that short period we worked together, right? Which, if I’m not mistaken, was three or four months, but it was very intense.”

Mantuan also highlighted during the interview the importance of Mancini and Sylvinho in his development. According to the player, each coach contributed in a different way during his early years in the senior squad.

Mantuan clears up rumors involving Corinthians

Although he spent a relatively short period with the first team, Gustavo Mantuan’s relationship with Corinthians began many years earlier. The player arrived at the club at the age of six to play futsal and remained in the sport until he was 13, when he made the transition to outdoor football.

In May of this year, the right-back’s name started circulating again behind the scenes in the transfer market amid rumors of a possible return to Parque São Jorge. Mantuan, however, told ESPN that no concrete negotiations took place.

“This time, there really were no talks. Nothing reached me, my agents, or my parents. We saw that it got some attention, but concretely, nothing happened this time.”

At the moment, any possible signing would also run into Corinthians’ current market situation, as the club is barred from registering new players due to the transfer bans currently in effect.

Even without any talks to return to Timão at this moment, Mantuan made it clear that he still has a strong emotional bond with the club where he spent much of his development.

“We have enormous affection for Corinthians. It’s an eternal gratitude I’ll always carry.”

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