Corinthians president explains reason for US trip during World Cup | OneFootball

Corinthians president Osmar Stabile is in the United States taking part in a program organized by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF). The event brings together executives from Brazilian clubs for a series of activities focused on studying sports management models adopted in North American leagues, with special emphasis on Major League Soccer (MLS).

In contact with the Meu Timão portal, the black-and-white club’s chairman commented on his presence abroad and pushed back against questions that emerged on social media after he was seen attending Brazil’s 1-1 draw with Morocco, a match valid for the first round of Group C of the World Cup, played last Saturday at New York/New Jersey Stadium.

Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Ag. Corinthians

“I came to New York for work and felt it was important to share some reflections, since even while being in the U.S., I remained committed and active in my institutional duties. Many times, it is not necessary to be physically present to sign documents or negotiate with our current partners. Technology and administrative tools allow efficient management from a distance. However, on this specific trip, there was an exceptional case related to the World Cup that required deeper involvement from the CBF and led me to be here in person”, he began in an exclusive interview.

The trip comes at a time of administrative challenges for Corinthians. In recent days, the club has had to deal with different financial and legal issues involving negotiations carried out in professional football.

Among them is the transfer ban imposed due to the delay in paying an installment for the signing of defensive midfielder José Martínez from the Philadelphia Union. In addition, Timão was ordered by FIFA to compensate New York City FC in the amount of $850,000, a figure related to the loan of Talles Magno. The club appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Another issue still being discussed behind the scenes is the delay in May payments for employees hired under service-provider contracts, as well as members of the professional squad and coaching staff.

Negotiations with Argentina’s Talleres for the purchase of Rodrigo Garro’s rights also remain open. Corinthians needs to pay around $7 million net by next Tuesday, the 16th, to avoid further complications involving the deal.

To make the payment possible, the board closed a financial operation with the company OutField. The agreement provides for the immediate transfer of the necessary funds, but will raise the debt to approximately $8.5 million, an amount that will be paid off in 26 monthly installments.

The model approved by the Advisory Council also provides for interest equivalent to the CDI plus 1% per year, a rate that currently stands at around 15.4% annually.

Speaking about his participation in the event promoted by the CBF, Stabile stressed that the trip’s main objective is to expand institutional and commercial connections in an environment that brings together representatives of major sports organizations.

“I came with the clear objective of taking advantage of this opportunity to meet strategic partners, especially because of the event’s visibility and global reach. We cannot think small on occasions like this. It is essential to have a broad vision, because the chance to forge alliances and strengthen future business relationships is unique. It is worth remembering that among the most important clubs in Brazil, almost all were represented here by their presidents, showing how much physical presence can make a difference in new negotiations and institutional alliances. Therefore, I would like to stress the importance of not underestimating the value of these moments, even for experienced and established people. Being present in key places can open doors that, from a distance, would be very difficult to access”, he concluded.

Last Friday, the delegation made up of executives from Serie A and Serie B teams took part in an official visit to MLS headquarters. The initiative aimed to present Brazilian clubs with aspects of the administrative and commercial workings of the United States’ top soccer league.

According to the CBF, one of the focuses of the discussions was related to the strategies used by MLS to attract internationally renowned players such as Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez, as well as the model that allows former players to take part as investors and franchise partners, as in the case of David Beckham at Inter Miami.

On Saturday, the Brazilian representatives attended activities related to the World Cup and also learned about management practices adopted by other North American sports leagues.

The exchange is part of a broader project developed by the CBF throughout 2026. At the beginning of the year, the entity had already taken Brazilian executives on technical visits to the Premier League, Bundesliga, and La Liga, with the aim of observing different management models applied in international football.

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