Corinthians director on contracts, defender exit, Brabas’ training ground

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Central do Timão

·18 de noviembre de 2025

Corinthians director on contracts, defender exit, Brabas’ training ground

By Fabio Luigi / Central do Timão Editorial Team

The director of women's football at Corinthians, Íris Sesso, gave an exclusive interview to the Meu Timão portal and addressed the contract renewals of players whose contracts are set to expire at the end of the current season. Among them are Tamires, Mariza, Gabi Zanotti, Lelê, among others.

The director clarified that each situation is being handled individually and that the decision depends on the players themselves, who often receive offers from foreign clubs: “At the very beginning of the year, or even at the end of last year, we already start to check which players have contracts expiring at the end of the year. So, we take that, start the conversations, make a plan and, from the start of the year, we begin negotiations with the player and her staff. Some renewals are progressing well so that things can be finalized, so we can get the renewal done. Others, at times, have different scenarios for the player.”

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“I often feel that the player and her staff don't yet have this vision of renewing with Corinthians and, later on, being able to negotiate that, so we can make a deal that involves financial compensation. Usually, when we have players under contract, we can negotiate with the interested club and don't necessarily have to pay the full release clause. We can negotiate to reach an agreement, depending a lot on the length of the player's contract, anyway. In the case of a player who can already sign a pre-contract, she can leave for free, so to speak. Sometimes, I feel they are a bit hesitant to renew with Corinthians and then, because of that renewal, the interested club might not want to go through with the deal,” she began.

She further added: “And, actually, no. The truth is, the world is already showing that we can have these negotiations, and this is growing. So, I think there needs to be this vision that it is indeed important to have these negotiations. And not only to benefit the club but also the player, by including a clause in the renewal so that she also receives a percentage in a future transfer. Because I think it's important that not only the clubs benefit, but the player as well.”

Next, she was asked about the possible departure of the young defender Mariza, who, according to Meu Timão, has been receiving inquiries from foreign clubs and has a contract until December. The defender is one of coach Arthur Elias's pillars in the Brazilian Women's National Team.

“Corinthians is a showcase, and so is the National Team. So, sometimes, they don't want to renew right away, at the beginning, when we make the proposal. And that's it: I have to respect that. We can't force a player, nor an agent. Even if they accept the proposal we made, even if the terms are good, we have to understand that sometimes, the player's desire is not to renew and to pursue other dreams, other ambitions; we have to understand that.”

“As managers, we have a more professional perspective. The fans are much more passionate, wanting the player to stay or, then, getting upset with one: ‘But she's leaving for free.’ And I really want that to stop. I think we need this vision. The players and agents need to understand that, today, women's football is a business, transfers are happening naturally, and everyone can benefit: club, agent, player, even passing on a percentage in a future sale to them,” she said.

It is worth noting that last year, Corinthians lost nine players for free who either did not want or did not have their contracts renewed with the club, such as: Yasmin, Isabela, Jheniffer, Carol Tavares, Ju Ferreira, Gabi Portilho, Fernanda, Mary Camilo, Fernanda, and Millene. Íris Sesso compared the situation this year to last season.

For 2026, the following players may leave Corinthians: defender Mariza, right-back Letícia Santos, and forward Eudimilla: “I am experiencing the same situation in 2024 with some players as well, who decided, even though they received our proposal at the beginning of the year, to wait until after the Olympics and, this year, decided to wait until after the Copa América. Anyway, they want to understand the timing to make the best decision, and sometimes, these decisions end up being made by them. The decision has already been made, but they are waiting, of course, focused on our calendar, our competitions, but eventually, these decisions are made exclusively by them.”

Later, she spoke about the negotiations for the contract renewal with Lucas Piccinato, whose contract also expires this year. In recent days, Meu Timão reported that both parties are negotiating an extension until 2028. Since his arrival at Parque São Jorge at the beginning of last year, the coach has won two Libertadores (2024 and 2025), one Supercopa (2024), and two Brazilian Championships (2024 and 2025).

“We will have Piccinato next year. Regardless of the contract length or whatever, we always have a very frank conversation at the beginning and end of each season. We talk and also understand his desire to stay, as well as the club's desire to keep him. I am very confident in talking about the great work Piccinato is doing. In 2024 and 2025, his great season was reaching almost every final, winning several titles.”

“Today, he is a two-time Brazilian champion, two-time Libertadores champion, and reached the final of the Paulista Championship in 2024. We are now in the semifinals of the Paulista in 2025. It's a spectacular job. It's what I've always said, right? The biggest challenge is to take a project that's already at the top and keep it there. And, thank God, with everyone's work, I believe we are managing to maintain it, and I always want to seek the best”, she added.

Finally, Íris Sesso responded about the possibility of the women's team having an exclusive training center, since currently, they share facilities with Corinthians' youth categories (U-15 to U-20). The director revealed that there have already been some meetings about the subject and conversations with president Osmar Stabile to promote improvements in the current structure for the players.

“We know of a place next to the Joaquim Grava Training Center, which started as an idea and has already been put forward. We've already had some meetings about this, but it doesn't just involve something internal to Corinthians; it involves some other organizations. This needs planning. So yes, it's not just a comment from the president, he is really thinking seriously and investing in this initial idea so that we can make it happen. Of course, it's not something for the short term, it's medium term, but it's alive in our daily conversations and, little by little, within the priorities we have today, we are managing to move this forward.”

“Some of the conversations I've had with the president, besides this exclusive training center for women's football, involve other things that are already progressing a bit faster, like improving our structure within the youth training center. Today, we have the structure there, but the president is making every possible effort, with partnerships, so that we can improve some of the physical structures for the players”, she concluded.

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