Osmar Stabile details Memphis deal, CORI approval, threats | OneFootball

Corinthians president Osmar Stabile explained the behind-the-scenes details of Memphis Depay’s contract renewal after the Orientation Council (CORI) meeting held last Monday (17). The chairman detailed the process that led to the approval of the new deal, spoke about the reduction in the amounts negotiated with the forward, and said that the financial issue was decisive in how the talks were handled.

According to Stabile, the renewal had to be submitted to CORI because of the total value of the operation, which exceeds the equivalent of 40,000 minimum wages. After receiving the necessary approval, Corinthians moved forward with formalizing the new contract, which will run for another two years.

Photo: ©Rodrigo Coca / Ag. Corinthians

“Everything is fine. It took work, obviously, it’s not an international star like this that you manage to sort out very quickly. It was a long process, as everyone already knows, but, thank God, we took it to CORI. It needed to go through the Orientation Council. When the amount goes over 40,000 minimum wages, it has to go through CORI. And we did that, thank God, everything worked out. We got the necessary vote for approval and we moved forward calmly. We managed to get it done. First, we would like to give special thanks to the people at CORI, who fought so that we could reach the numbers we reached. I also want to thank Memphis Depay’s team and him personally, because we had a face-to-face meeting and he managed to lower numbers that his team had not been able to get to. We did what was best for Corinthians, in every aspect, especially financially.

I always said the financial issue was the most important for Corinthians, because there was no point in signing any contract if I wouldn’t be able to pay it in the future. I’m not thinking about myself, I’m thinking about whoever comes next. We are signing a two-year contract, I don’t know if I’ll still be here over those two years, so I had to do what was best for Corinthians. I always thought about the institution and suffered the consequences. For me, it would have been much easier, much better, to have signed any contract, like they used to do here at Corinthians, and then go celebrate, take the photo, and travel the world. That would have been the most comfortable thing for me at that moment. But I wanted to think about the institution, so we extended things, suffered the consequences, my phone numbers were leaked, my daughters’ phone numbers were leaked, my bank accounts were invaded, as were my daughters’ and my wife’s. So, look, it was a difficult situation.

I’m here at zero cost to Corinthians, I don’t charge anything to work, nobody here charges anything, the directors who are with me, but it is a very sad situation to know that we, in this country, live in a situation like this. It’s not possible for us to have to do what’s best for the institution, trying to do what’s best for the institution, and receive this kind of response. I told you that whatever best I could do for Corinthians, I would do, regardless of the consequences, but that’s how the situation is.

Today, we have 50% who wanted us to sign him, and another 50% who didn’t. I said that if he didn’t reach the numbers I later gave him, directly to Memphis, then it wouldn’t happen, and he reached those numbers, so it became possible. I took it to CORI because, I repeat, of the 40,000 minimum wage issue, which made it necessary to take it there. We almost never have contracts of this size, these kinds of signings, and unfortunately I received all this from social media, criticizing the president all the time.”

Stabile rules out possibility of resigning

Asked about a possible resignation amid the pressure he has faced in recent days, Stabile ruled it out. The president again criticized the disclosure of personal information and said that other members of the administration and the Council also had their data exposed.

“Under no circumstances, under no circumstances, resignation. That was never discussed. Social media itself—there was a journalist out there who used ‘game over.’ There is no need to use that term to encourage fans to go after the director, the president. We can get things right, we can get things wrong, that happens in any administration, all of that happens, but this is not possible in a country where we work, dedicate ourselves, try to do our best, and receive this kind of thing.

Leaking your accounts, not just mine. Pedro Soares, who is the legal director, especially the people at CORI, people on the Council, several people received this kind of thing. Paulo Pedro, from CORI, was extremely upset because, just look, he had nothing to do with this story, didn’t take part in it at all. His information was also leaked. Dr. Miguel Marques de Silva’s information was leaked. There’s no need for this, people. Let’s talk, let’s at least be civilized. That’s what I tell you. We have to be civilized and we are civilized, but there are people who do things like this. And we do not accept that, under any circumstances.”

Then, when asked if he was happy after the conclusion of the negotiations, the chairman replied:

“I am always happy. Happiness is inside each of us. Happiness is not in things you seek outside. I am always happy because I have always understood that happiness is inside each person. And I wake up every day first thanking God for the day I am receiving, because when I open my eyes, I see that I have been given one more day. So I am happy for that, for having it. And then the consequences of us making a decision here, right or wrong, are day by day, moment by moment, and I am happy.”

President explains internal communication about the negotiation

Stabile was also asked about how the talks were handled, especially after players and members of the coaching staff had, according to reports, learned of the interruption of negotiations during the trip to Argentina. The executive denied any political interference from council members and said Fernando Diniz and executive Marcelo Paz were already aware of the situation.

“At no point did any council member call me and ask me: ‘Do this, do that, do this, do that.’ Under no circumstances. That was made up by social media itself. It has nothing to do with your media, with you who work as journalists. Social media is people who make that kind of media, ambush-style media, all that kind of thing, you already know. And what happens is this: they say these things, keep saying them, saying them, saying them, and they can even become true.

I want to tell you the following: both the coach and Marcelo Paz already knew when they left the training center, and it is not up to me to go around informing the players. I have the technical department, I have the executive department, they are the ones who take action. They did inform them, yes. People said they were not informed, I don’t know how, but they were informed, yes.”

Contract sent for signing

With CORI’s approval, Stabile explained that the document would be sent to the club’s internal system for electronic signature. The president also expressed confidence that Memphis could be available for the Libertadores clash against Rosario Central.

“It’s already being uploaded as a document, we sign all documents here today. I want to tell you the following: when I came in here, you had piles of documents to sign. Today we sign everything through systems. So there is no need for me to physically be here to sign. The moment it goes into the system, I will sign it.”

On the possibility of Memphis playing on Thursday:

“Look, everything indicates yes. There is no problem preventing him. We are doing everything possible so that, as quickly as possible, we sign the contract and so that tomorrow morning he can report there at 9 a.m.”

The president also clarified why he decided to consult the Orientation Council even after the financial and marketing departments had approved the deal.

“Because the amount exceeded 40,000 minimum wages. That was my understanding. At first I understood that it didn’t, then I checked with the president of the Deliberative Council as well, asking him, and he advised that it should go through. So I really took it there with the intention that, regardless of the situation, it would make the decision, yes or no.

It was very quick. The last contract I received was in the early hours from Friday to Saturday. So, on Saturday itself, I asked CORI and on Monday they held the meeting. I requested an emergency meeting and they held it. I want to thank CORI again for holding this emergency meeting so that this demand could be met.”

Memphis lowered figures to make stay possible

Another point addressed was the financial reduction made during the final round of negotiations. Stabile confirmed there was a considerable decrease in the amount, but avoided detailing the figures.

“Yes, yes. He lowered it a lot. I didn’t want to talk numbers here with you, but he lowered the contract considerably because of the player’s desire to stay and Corinthians’ need to find a way for us to pay. Because the big problem is this: you close it in any way and then you don’t pay. What happens then? At least from what I felt and from the work we did, both legally and administratively and also financially, it is possible for us to pay this contract.”

The president also retraced the sequence of talks after Corinthians had previously announced that negotiations were over. According to him, the parties resumed contact by phone and later held an in-person meeting.

“We took the step together, in a conversation by phone. We decided to meet on Wednesday night. We decided to meet and look for an alternative. And they were going to present a new proposal. That is, we presented our proposals, they did not accept them. And then we released the statement saying that we could not meet what had been pre-established by them.

‘Look, it can’t be done, we’re not going ahead, I’m ending it here.’ I ended it. The matter was closed. Regardless of what was going to happen, the matter was closed. Then there was this conversation, we called: ‘Let’s talk, let’s talk.’ And, as I told you, it was a financial issue, so if it is financial and someone opens the door to negotiate financially, I am always available.

In Nike’s case, I just want to point out to you, they walked away from the table and I walked away from the table four times in a row. And then we managed to reach an agreement. So it is natural that, when you negotiate, you want what is best for the institution, the player wants what is best for himself, to bring the numbers to a level we can meet. So that is what we worked on.”

Asked what he would have done if CORI had rejected the agreement, Stabile avoided dealing in hypotheticals.

“So, I want to tell you that there is no point in working with ‘if.’ It was approved and I accelerated the contract, I already had the contract uploaded and I’m going to sign it, and that’s it. Let’s move on, change things, and move forward.”

Stabile says he does not regret how it was handled

The president also said he has no regrets and argued that his administration is promoting internal changes that, according to him, will be noticed in the long term.

“No regrets at all. This is the situation. I told you, you asked if I’m happy, I’m not sorry about anything. I think I did what was best for Corinthians, I will continue doing what is best for Corinthians, you can be absolutely sure of that. No one changes my focus. I have been working tirelessly at Corinthians so that we change the things we inherited. There is a change taking place that you do not notice, it’s called silent change, and we will only see this silent change when you begin to notice what is happening and how we are planting for the future.

We are sowing, as they say, sowing, then it will sprout, it will grow, it will bloom, it will bear fruit, and later on we will reap it. You can be absolutely sure that this is what we are doing. So there is a silent change inside Corinthians that you do not notice, but it is happening. In every department, in the administrative restructuring, in the financial restructuring. At the Arena, we already have environmental management in place, we have already gone through the first phase. On September 5, we are receiving the environmental management certification, something modern, something different, for which all the documents have already been implemented.

Corinthians’ youth academy today, just to give you an idea, has moved up to another level. Today it is another kind of philosophy, a different work philosophy. We are changing all of that, transforming all of that. So there is a need to wait a little. We don’t plant now and have it sprout today, bloom tomorrow, bear fruit the day after, and then reap it.”

Corinthians will be responsible for the salary

Stabile also said that Corinthians itself will be responsible for paying Memphis’ wages under the new deal. Even so, the club intends to seek partners over the next two years.

“No, Corinthians will cover it. Memphis’ salary will be paid by Corinthians. We intend to find partners somewhere along the way. We have two years ahead of us, not me as president. I’m here now until the end of the year, obviously, which is what I have to offer right now, and I don’t know who comes after, I don’t know if it will be me or someone else. So we have to take the necessary care to deliver a better Corinthians.”

Asked whether the external reaction to the previous decision to end the talks had weighed on the resumption, the president said no.

“Under no circumstances, because it opened up on Wednesday. I spoke on Tuesday, and by Wednesday night there were already talks. On Tuesday there was, how do you say it, the beginning of a conversation, but it did not move forward. On Wednesday we had the meeting, and we believe that this meeting was crucial for us to continue toward closing this contract.”

Stabile reveals conversation with Memphis

After CORI’s approval, the chairman contacted the No. 10 directly. According to Stabile, the conversation was to inform the player that the internal process had been completed. Describing the contact, he added:

“Yes, yes, I already spoke to him, I already spoke to him. It was very good. Within what we had agreed, I carried out the entire process within what we had agreed and discussed, and as soon as it ended, the first thing I did was call him and tell him the following: ‘Look, we’re together for another two years.’”

Stabile denies Fatal Fans took part in the negotiation

The president was also asked about a possible involvement of Fatal Fans in the financial structure of the renewal. Stabile said the subject was not part of the talks he conducted.

“No, no, I didn’t talk to them. Fatal did not speak to me about increasing amounts and so on. This is an issue that, first, when it happens, goes through marketing, then it is assessed in marketing, assessed in legal, and only then does it go up to the president. Then we talk. I have always been talking to the president of Atlas, who is the same owner of that website, we always talk, but there is no problem at all. That subject was not dealt with, the Fatal matter did not enter this negotiation.”

Despite the back-and-forth in the talks, Stabile also denied that there had been any personal fallout between him and Memphis.

“Everything was handled professionally, normally. There was no problem at all. The day we met, we smiled, as we always smile, we joked, as we always have. We deal with each other, obviously, with professional distance, I as an executive, he as a player. There was no problem at all, there never was and there won’t be. I am absolutely sure it will continue as it was before, and it will keep being that way.

It is a financial issue. I had no relationship problem at all, I have no relationship problem with any player. They all treat me with a lot of respect, all the players. We talk, discuss situations, talk about serious matters, sometimes there are jokes in the locker room, I take part, there is no problem at all once the match is over, but before the game everything is serious, everything is handled in the best possible way, with the utmost respect.”

Finally, the president said the new agreement does not contain any specific clause related to the debt Corinthians still owes the forward. Stabile also highlighted that there was a reduction in interest and other financial conditions.

“No specific clause. Everything is within the law. A specific one like there was, for example, with Roas, for example, no, there isn’t, there’s nothing. We managed to reduce the interest, he managed to reduce the interest, he managed to lower a series of conditions so that Corinthians would be comfortable and able to fulfill this contract.

Me or another president who comes along, without being left in the situation I received, a very difficult situation that I received, paying several transfer bans. There are still three more transfer bans to pay, we are already planning for the future, but that is the situation. We want to keep the current squad and it was difficult for us to be able to keep it, but, thank God, everything worked out.”

With CORI’s approval, Corinthians moved forward with the final procedures to formalize Memphis Depay’s stay for two more seasons. According to Stabile, the expectation is that the forward will report to CT Dr. Joaquim Grava this Tuesday (18) at 9 a.m., while the club works to make him available for the decisive clash against Rosario Central on Thursday (20), in the second leg of the Copa Libertadores round of 16.

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