Romero on future after Corinthians exit, won’t join rivals

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Central do Timão

·7 January 2026

Romero on future after Corinthians exit, won’t join rivals

By Mirella Ramos / Central do Timão Editorial Team

After concluding his time at Corinthians at the end of the 2025 season, Ángel Romero is eager to decide the next step in his career. Without a renewed contract, the Paraguayan forward is now a free agent and was a guest on the Fala a Fonte program on ESPN, where he discussed everything from his professional future to the strong connection he built with the club from Parque São Jorge.

Champion of the Copa do Brasil and the Campeonato Paulista in 2025, Romero explained that he is currently evaluating options and highlighted the importance of family in decisions involving the conclusion of his professional athlete career.

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“So far, there are only speculations that have come up. I'm discussing it with my family because nowadays I'm a family man, and decisions are made together. I have to decide in the best way. I'm at the beginning of my final career stage, so the decision will be made together with my family,” said Romero.

The player also stated that the priority is to play for a club where he can have continuity and feel important, especially considering a personal goal with the Paraguayan national team.

“What I prefer is to play, to be in a team where I can play and feel important, feel physically well for my goal, which is to be on the coach's list for the World Cup. It would be very important for me and a dream come true. Since I was a child, I watched and grew up watching the national team games in the World Cup. So, my goal is to feel important to be on that World Cup list, which will be a dream come true.”

During the interview, Romero was also asked about the possibility of playing for Mirassol, a club that will compete in the group stage of the Copa Libertadores and has Paulinho, a former teammate at Corinthians, as an executive. In response, the Paraguayan addressed the topic with humor.

“Tell Paulinho to call me (laughs). I always talk to him, he's my friend, but there hasn't been any talk about a contract.”

Speaking about the decision to end his cycle at Timão, the forward explained that discussions continued until the end of the season and that the conclusion came after the Copa do Brasil final.

“We were in talks, but what hindered it a bit was this year's schedule, which went until December 21. We couldn't talk earlier to see my situation, to know what would happen. We kept going until the 21st, which was the final (of the Copa do Brasil). You can see that there was no renewal until that moment.”

“In all the interviews I gave, I said we would leave it for the last days of the year. After the final, we sat down to talk and decided. The choice was to end our cycle with Corinthians. It was a really nice story, I was very happy in those eight years, with comings and goings. I'm very happy with the story I made within the club.”

Romero also commented on his relationship with the fans and whether he considers himself an idol of Corinthians, emphasizing that this definition is up to the fans.

“You said it well: I have a strong connection with the club. It was a long time at the club, titles, important and decisive games. All of this leads an athlete to become an idol. But it's not Romero who decides, it's the fans. I always tried to give my best on the field, always respecting and honoring the jersey, that was the only thing I wanted to do and always tried to do.”

“Thank God, I leave Corinthians with great gratitude. It was a club that opened doors for me outside my country, my first team outside Paraguay. The gratitude will remain forever. The Fiel always stood by my side, since I arrived in São Paulo I felt their affection, on the streets I always felt the affection, just like my family, who always felt very well at the club and in the city.”

“I'm very grateful, I always say I have to thank for everything I experienced at Corinthians. I grew as a professional and a person. I entered there as a boy and left as a man. I'm very happy to have made this beautiful story at such a big club. Being inside Corinthians, we see the size of the club, now from the outside too. Making a beautiful story, the way it was, the way we ended this cycle, I'm very happy,” he concluded.

Asked about the most memorable title won with the alvinegra jersey, Romero highlighted the 2025 Copa do Brasil.

“I'll go with the 2025 Copa do Brasil, for everything we went through during that year. It was a lot that we went through during the year, nobody believed in us, as we are used to at Corinthians, always being underestimated, not seen as favorites, despite having a well-qualified team. We always believed and trusted in the group and the squad. We have a very good squad, a very healthy group. We closed ranks and believed we could make it.”

“And also at a different stage of my career, as captain, it was the trophy I needed, the Copa do Brasil, and the way it was: at Maracanã against Vasco. All titles are important, since the Brasileirão in 2015, which was very good, we managed to score over 80 points, something incredible for that time. Then came the Campeonato Paulista titles, twice in finals against Palmeiras, which is always special, one at their home and another at Neo Química Arena. These are special titles that we will always remember and remain in memory, but the most special was the last one, which will remain forever in the club's history.”

The Paraguayan also talked about the teammates with whom he built bonds during his time at Corinthians.

“I had many partners. Since the time of Guerrero, who welcomed me very well. It was eight years at Corinthians, I arrived in 2014, and Guerrero was the first person who talked to me and helped me a lot with the language and Brazilian culture, giving me tips about Corinthians. Then there was Lodeiro, Fausto Vera, and lastly Garro, who was a great partner of mine, we used to room together. I never had problems with anyone. I always treated everyone with a lot of respect and partnership. I never had a problem with anyone in the squad or at the training center. I always tried to be a respected person who respects everyone, from the cleaning staff, gardening, kitchen, to the president. I always tried to respect everyone to be respected as well.”

Regarding the possibility of playing for a rival team in São Paulo, Romero was straightforward in dismissing the scenario.

“Difficult. With Gustavo Gómez, I play in the national team, with Bobadilla too... If they want to play with me, it has to be in the national team (laughs). It's difficult, my history doesn't allow it. How many teams are there in the world? It's unfair to go to another team in São Paulo. And they also won't want Romero (laughs).”

Finally, the forward commented on which derbies he most enjoyed playing during his time at Corinthians, highlighting the matches against Palmeiras.

“Without a doubt, I enjoyed playing against Palmeiras the most, it was our classic rival. In recent years, when I left, Palmeiras was doing well, they grew a lot, from 2019 onwards the club grew a lot. It wasn't all that when I arrived, they were even in Serie B. I remember well that I asked what the classic rival was and they said the rival was in Serie B. Then they came up and I played several classics, it was always Corinthians. Then they grew and got better. In recent times we managed to win a lot. Against São Paulo, it was difficult to play at Morumbi, but at Neo Química Arena, it was not possible for them, we always won.”

“Santos was also difficult at Vila, always very difficult, but at the Arena, it was very difficult for them too, because we were very strong there. Once they took a game to Pacaembu, remember that? We were winning 1-0 and they tied in the last minute, they celebrated as if they had won. I even went to check the table to see if they had won one or three points (laughs). Then they said I spoke badly of Santos, I even had to give a press conference because they said I belittled Santos, that it was small, but I never said anything about Santos, I only talked about that specific game. But they are like that, let it be.”

Romero left Corinthians as the foreigner with the most matches played for the club. In total, he played 377 games, scored 67 goals, and won six titles: two Brazilian Championships (2015 and 2017), three Campeonato Paulista titles (2017, 2018, and 2025), and one Copa do Brasil (2025).

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