Matheus Donelli makes Shabab Al-Ahli debut in UAE Pro League | OneFootball

On-loan Corinthians goalkeeper Matheus Donelli made his first competitive appearance for Shabab Al-Ahli, starting a 1-1 draw at Dubai United in the UAE Pro League on Friday.

He conceded in the 12th minute of the second half when El Mehdi Maouhoub was found unmarked in midfield and guided the ball into Donelli's right corner. He also made two saves, both from inside the area.

According to Meu Timao, the 24-year-old arrived on 6 February and, with the initial loan set to run to 30 June and no formal club announcement, he was omitted from squads and featured only in pre-season. The deal has since been extended to the end of this year.

The agreement already included an option for automatic renewal. The coaching staff, led by Brazilian coach André Jardine, view his displays positively, and a permanent transfer at the end of the new loan period is not ruled out.

To be eligible to make his debut, he had to obtain United Arab Emirates citizenship, as competition rules require goalkeepers to be UAE nationals.

A Corinthians academy graduate, Donelli had lost his place in the squad, prompting a loan move to the United Arab Emirates. He remains under contract with Corinthians until 31 December 2028.

Source: Meu Timao

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”