Out of favour, right-back could leave Corinthians for abroad this window | OneFootball

Developed in Corinthians’ youth academy, 22-year-old right-back Léo Maná could leave the Parque São Jorge club during this transfer window. According to reporting by Central do Timão, the club and the player’s representatives are working on a move abroad — the countries involved were not disclosed to the outlet. His contract with Alvinegro, renewed at the start of 2025, runs until December 2029.

At this moment, it is worth noting, Léo Mana is not in the plans of the coaching staff led by Fernando Diniz. Currently, Matheuzinho is the starting right-back, while Pedro Milans appears as the immediate backup for the position. In the youth ranks, Guilherme Pellegrin and João Vitor “Jacaré” are listed as options — the latter has already been called up for first-team matches.

Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

The player had been loaned to Criciúma in August 2025 and, after the end of the deal on July 31, the right-back reported back to CT Dr. Joaquim Grava. Since then, he has been training separately from the current squad. During his loan spell, he received few opportunities. In total, he made just eight appearances for the Santa Catarina club.

Last season, with Tigre, Léo Mana totaled 170 minutes on the pitch, all in Brazil’s Série B. In 2026, his involvement was even more limited, with only 32 minutes spread across two matches. His most recent appearance came on April 19, in Criciúma’s 3–2 loss to Fortaleza at Castelão, in the second round of Série B. The full-back came on in the 37th minute of the second half. After that match, he was not used again by coach Eduardo Baptista.

Léo Mana also missed the matches against CRB, Cuiabá, and Atlético-GO. In Criciúma’s last 13 matches, he was not even included in the squad. Before the clash against Fortaleza, his only appearance of the season had come on April 6. On that occasion, he came on during the 1–0 loss to Goiás at Serrinha Stadium and stayed on the field for 24 minutes.

Despite the limited playing time, the defender won a title during his spell in Santa Catarina. In March, he was part of the squad that won the Taça Acesc, decided on penalties against Camboriú by 8–7. The competition brought together clubs eliminated in the quarterfinals and semifinals of the Campeonato Catarinense and guaranteed the winner a spot in the 2027 Copa do Brasil.

Having come through Corinthians’ youth system, Léo Mana played 112 matches across the Under-17 and Under-20 teams. His debut for the professional team came in 2022, in a 1–0 loss to América-MG in the Brazilian Championship. For Timão’s first team, the full-back has made 30 appearances, 18 of them as a starter. During that span, he scored no goals, provided one assist, and was part of the squad that won the 2025 Campeonato Paulista against Palmeiras in Itaquera.

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