Róger Guedes reveals Corinthians contact, explains Qatar stay | OneFootball

Róger Guedes is enjoying one of the best moments of his career in Qatari football. At 29, the forward recently renewed his contract with Al Rayyan until 2030 and, despite speculation about a possible return to Brazil, revealed that he received an approach from Corinthians during the negotiation period.

In an interview with ESPN, the player explained that the black-and-white club showed interest through contacts with his agent, Paulo Pitombeira. Grêmio, where Róger Guedes played in the youth ranks, also emerged as one of the clubs interested in signing him.

Photo: Rodrigo Coca / Corinthians Agency

“Offers from Brazil always come, thank God. I know it’s because of everything I do on the pitch and did in Brazil. There are always clubs coming after me. Of course, I’ve now renewed with Al Rayyan for four years, and I think that surprised everyone in Brazil, because I was about to enter my final year of contract,” he said.

According to the forward, Grêmio was the Brazilian club that showed the strongest interest. Even so, he confirmed that Corinthians also made contact during the process.

“The team that came strongest was Grêmio. We’ve always had very good contact, just like with Corinthians. The president [Stábile] also contacted Paulo [Pitombeira]. But nothing about presenting a contract, nothing like that. I’ve always made it clear that I’m happy here, and my family is too, which is why I renewed,” he added.

Róger Guedes explains choice to stay at Al Rayyan

The decision to remain in Qatar is tied not only to his professional moment, but also to the forward’s adaptation to the country. Since arriving at Al Rayyan in 2023, Róger Guedes has established himself and become one of the team’s main players.

The Brazilian also highlighted the relationship he built with the fans and the warm welcome he received from the moment he arrived.

“I think it was the way I was welcomed here by the fans. Even though the stadiums still aren’t that full, I came from Corinthians, which fills the stadium every game, but I think it was their affection. The Qatari people are very welcoming, I’ve felt at home since day one. I came with the goal of playing and shining on the pitch, helping the team with goals and titles,” he explained.

Last season, the forward posted impressive numbers. He scored 36 goals and provided 10 assists in 40 matches, in addition to winning the Gulf Cup. Róger Guedes was also the top scorer in the Qatar League for the second straight season.

“Last season was the best of my life so far. It was 36 goals and 10 assists in 40 games. There are competitions here that end up not releasing the stats, like the QSL, which was our first title. It was very good. I was able to win the award for best player in the Gulf Cup, which we won, and I was the top scorer in the Qatar League for two years in a row. For this year, I want to win the league title, which has been the goal since day one. It’s the sheikh’s biggest objective [Sheikh Al-Qaqa bin Hamad Al Thani] since he took over. I also really want to top the scoring charts again, which would be a huge milestone,” he said.

Forward could change positions

Róger Guedes’ development in Qatari football has also brought changes to the way he plays. The player, who began his career with characteristics closer to those of a winger, has gained more freedom in attack.

According to him, the change began during his time at Atlético-MG, when he started playing closer to the opponent’s box.

“[At Palmeiras] I really was a winger, attacking and defending down the flank and doing the dirty work, so to speak, for the other forwards. That changed at Atlético-MG, with Thiago Larghi. He ended up seeing that I finished very well and that, if I stayed near the box, the chances of scoring were much greater. I ended up always playing more as a left winger or second striker. That’s how it was in China and later when I returned to Corinthians, with Sylvinho and other coaches,” he said.

At Al Rayyan, the forward has taken on an even freer role, closer to a No. 10 position. With the number of goals he has piled up in recent years, he believes he may play as a center-forward in the future.

“Here at Al Rayyan, I’m more of a second striker. I see myself more as a No. 10, because I come deep to get the ball from the holding midfielders, sometimes even from the center-back. So, it’s a little different from what I would do in Brazil. Today I’m a more attacking No. 10. I see this second-striker profile as my main characteristic, attacking space, but if I need to come deeper for the ball, I do that too. I’d say that today I play more freely in attack. I believe that from now on, I’ll be more of a center-forward, even because of the number of goals,” he said.

Róger Guedes also stressed that he has never liked being tied to one specific role on the pitch.

“I never liked staying in just one position, being too systematic. I’ve always liked moving around more, and I think the coaches started to understand that,” he added.

Forward is being considered to represent the Qatar national team

Besides staying at Al Rayyan, Róger Guedes also commented on the possibility of representing the Qatar national team. The Brazilian still needs to meet the naturalization rules to be able to represent the country.

According to the forward, there is interest from the federation, but no negotiations have started so far. The possibility also depends on deciding which legislation will apply to the naturalization process.

“From what little I know, they [Qatar Confederation] do have that desire. If everything is possible, they always say the law could change to three years, and from this year on I could already be naturalized, or whether they will rely on the old law, which would only allow it after five years in the country and without representing another national team. But we’ve never talked because there is this debate over whether the new law or the old law applies. If it’s the old one, I would have to wait a while longer. However, there have been no negotiations, just speculation,” he explained.

Relationship with Portuguese coaches

During his time at Al Rayyan, Róger Guedes also worked with two Portuguese coaches who currently manage Brazilian teams: Leonardo Jardim at Flamengo and Artur Jorge at Cruzeiro.

The forward highlighted his experience with both professionals, but revealed an especially close relationship with Artur Jorge.

“I really enjoyed working with Jardim. He was the one who brought me here. We stayed together for a year and, unfortunately, we lost the league and a cup here in Qatar. But it was very good work. We finished second in the league, I competed for the competition’s best player award, it was very good overall,” he said.

“But my relationship with Artur was different. I’ve always said I see him as a ‘dad’ in football for me. He gave me total confidence and freedom in the team, and his staff was fantastic. I think because he had already worked in Brazil, they knew how to deal with Brazilian players, how to treat them, the tactical side and all that. He really likes that tactical aspect, especially offensively, pressing higher up. As a forward, I really enjoyed playing under him in that sense,” he added.

The forward also praised the work both Portuguese coaches are doing in Brazilian football.

“I can only thank both of them. They just faced each other in the Libertadores: Jardim came out on top, but then they played again and Artur won. I think that, in a short time, Artur Jorge showed his work at Cruzeiro, took the team out of the relegation zone and put them among the top four. Jardim is at one of the biggest clubs in Brazil and is doing a great job too,” he concluded.

Róger Guedes still has big dreams

Before building his path in Qatar, Róger Guedes also had opportunities to leave Brazil for Europe. The forward revealed that he received official offers from clubs such as Porto, Benfica, Atalanta and CSKA Moscow, but no deal was finalized.

The player also revealed that he wanted to play for Roma, mainly because of the admiration he had for Francesco Totti, in addition to the dream of representing Real Madrid.

“Since childhood, I’ve always liked Roma and Real Madrid. I always imagined playing for one of those two teams. Real because of the club itself, but also because of Cristiano Ronaldo. At Roma, I really liked Totti. So, as a child, I really wanted to play for Roma, right up until I became a professional player. I still wear my socks low to this day because of Totti, and also because of Verón, the Argentine. But I never had the pleasure of meeting him [Totti],” he said.

Despite the opportunities, Róger Guedes never played in European football. After spells at Criciúma, Palmeiras, Atlético-MG and Corinthians, the forward built his international career in China and later in Qatar.

“As for official offers [from Europe], there was Porto’s, back in my Galo days, which I ended up not accepting because I went to China instead, that was in 2018. If I’m not mistaken, there was also one from Benfica when I was at Corinthians, before coming here (Al Rayyan). Back then (2018), I also had an offer from Russia, I think from CSKA Moscow. In 2016, I had one from Atalanta and again in mid-2017. There was a lot of speculation, but those were the official ones, the ones where offers actually reached the clubs,” he revealed.

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