Matheuzinho admits off-pitch issues disrupted Corinthians’ season | OneFootball

The right-back Matheuzinho admitted that off-field issues disrupted Corinthians' 2025 season.

One of the crucial factors for Timão's inconsistency in the Brazilian Championship was the lack of reinforcements. The club faced a transfer ban and was unable to register new signings. As a result, they managed to secure only one signing: the forward Vitinho.

“In some matches, we ended up slipping at certain moments of the games. But our squad is one where we only had the arrival of Vitinho. Like it or not, the arrival of other teammates helps, it strengthens our squad more and more. But all the players here are of high level. Not for nothing, we won the Paulista with the players who are here. It was a very atypical year, where the club went through a delicate moment both off and on the field, but what we can do is just focus on football on the field,” said the athlete in an exclusive interview with Gazeta Esportiva during the Troféu Mesa Redonda.

“Talking about off-field, political issues, is not up to us. It's up to the board, the Council people. The only bad thing is that it ended up injuring many players and there was no replacement because of that, because we couldn't have more reinforcements. This, like it or not, hinders us, because having more high-level players increases our level of competition. It was more about this than political issues from the outside,” he added.

(Photo: Tiffany Maria/TV Gazeta)

Focus on the Copa do Brasil

Despite the ups and downs in the Brasileirão, Matheuzinho switches gears and guarantees full focus on the Copa do Brasil semifinal against Cruzeiro.

“We are well prepared, we have already switched gears from the Brazilian Championship, which was another competition, another dynamic. Now comes the Copa do Brasil, which are two very important games for us, to end this year, God willing, very victorious. Our mindset has completely changed, we are 100% focused on Cruzeiro. It will be a very difficult, very contested game, and we will go all out to achieve our goal,” he projected.

Dream of the National Team

Matheuzinho fluctuated during his first year wearing the Corinthians jersey, but sees himself as more “solid” and wants to grow more each day. As the owner of Timão's right-back position, the player dreams of a spot in the Brazilian National Team.

“Last year was a different year for me. I joined a new club, which has a different methodology than I was used to, but little by little I was fitting in, understanding myself, gaining confidence. Today I can say that I am very solid. I couldn't play the whole season at the best possible level, but I know the way. Next year, I will prepare a lot to play the same number of games I played this year, at the highest possible level, because I know it is very important for me, as an athlete and as a person, and also for the club,” he stated.

“I never stop dreaming. It's a goal I have [to be called up to the Brazilian National Team]. I'm sure that if I do well at Corinthians, the chance of reaching the National Team is much greater,” he concluded.

Next Corinthians match

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