Romero may end winning spell at Corinthians with Copa do Brasil

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Central do Timão

·29 December 2025

Romero may end winning spell at Corinthians with Copa do Brasil

By Fabio Luigi / Central do Timão Editorial Team

Last Sunday (21), Corinthians became the four-time champion of the Copa do Brasil (1995, 2002, 2009, and 2025) by defeating Vasco da Gama, 2-1, at the Maracanã Stadium, with goals from forwards Yuri Alberto and Memphis Depay. With only two days left before the end of his contract, Ángel Romero may have concluded his victorious cycle at Parque São Jorge with a national knockout title.

Ángel Romero arrived at Corinthians in 2014 under skepticism and initially did not have many opportunities. The Paraguayan began to be more utilized and gained momentum in the final stretch of 2015, when the Alvinegro won the Brazilian championship that year. In the 6-1 thrashing against São Paulo in Itaquera, during the final stretch of the Brasileirão, the number 11 actively participated in that victory, scoring two goals.

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Photo: Rodrigo Coca and Marco Galvão/Agência Corinthians

After the dismantling of the 2015 national champion team, Romero assumed the starting position in 2016 and became more of a protagonist at Parque São Jorge, scoring 15 goals in 56 matches. In the following season, under the command of Fábio Carille, he was crucial in the tactical and collective aspect in winning the Brasileirão and Campeonato Paulista in 2017. That year, he scored six times in 58 games.

In 2023, he was decisive in the final stretch of the Brazilian Championship, becoming one of the key players in saving the team from relegation to the national second division. That season, he scored crucial goals against Cuiabá, Grêmio, Vasco da Gama, and Coritiba. Last year, even as a substitute, he scored 16 goals in 60 games, aiding the team's surge in the 2024 Brasileirão (from the Z4 to the Pre-Libertadores).

After the departures of idols and players who made history with the Corinthians jersey, such as Gil, Fábio Santos, Renato Augusto, Fagner, and Cássio, Ángel Romero became, alongside midfielder Maycon, one of the leaders of the squad. In 2025, he scored five goals (four in the Campeonato Paulista) and provided three assists in 53 games. His last goal for Corinthians occurred on April 24, in the victory against Racing-URU, 1-0, at home, in the third round of the Conmebol Sudamericana group stage.

After the arrival of Dorival Júnior on April 28, the Paraguayan, like Talles Magno, lost his place in the Corinthians squad, being replaced by young players from the youth categories like Dieguinho, Gui Negão, and Kayke. Even so, the number 11 continued to play a leadership role in the locker room. After the coaching change, the forward did not score any goals and provided only one assist in 25 matches.

During his time at Corinthians, Romero became the foreign player with the most goals for the club at Parque São Jorge – 67 in 377 games (253 as a starter). Additionally, he was for a long time the top scorer in the history of the Neo Química Arena, with 43 goals scored. Recently, he was surpassed by Yuri Alberto, who has 45.

In two stints with the Alvinegro (2014 to 2018 and 2023 to 2025), he won six titles: Brasileirão (2015 and 2017), Campeonato Paulista (2017, 2018, and 2025), and Copa do Brasil (2025). Alongside Maycon, the number 11 is, from the current squad, the player with the most titles for the club at Parque São Jorge.

Ángel Romero's last match for Corinthians took place on December 7, in a 1-1 draw against Juventude, at the Neo Química Arena, in the last round of the Brazilian Championship. On that day, the Paraguayan was substituted in the 17th minute of the second half by Dieguinho. In the semifinals of the Copa do Brasil, against Cruzeiro and Vasco, he was not used by Dorival Júnior.

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