Ex-midfielder on living his dream at Corinthians in title year

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Central do Timão

·24 de enero de 2026

Ex-midfielder on living his dream at Corinthians in title year

By Henrique Pereira / Central do Timão Editorial Team

Fellipe Bastos, who played for Corinthians between 2017 and 2018, holds positive memories of his time at Parque São Jorge and describes his stint at the club as the fulfillment of a career dream. The former player highlighted, above all, the strength of the black-and-white fans, which he pointed out as decisive both on and off the field.

“You can't explain what Corinthians is like. It's always fighting, people are always doubting, and Corinthians is always responding. It was a dream come true in my life to play for a top club, a club of the masses. Everywhere we played, the Corinthians fans were bigger. And if they weren't bigger, they sang louder”, said Fellipe Bastos during his participation in the Basticast.

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Fellipe Bastos celebrating a goal with Rodriguinho during his time at Corinthians. Photo: Daniel Augusto Jr. / Ag. Corinthians

The former midfielder was part of the team that won the Paulista and Brazilian championships in 2017, a season in which Corinthians started the year considered the “fourth force” in São Paulo football. Fellipe recalled that period and pointed to the 1-0 victory over Palmeiras in the Paulista Championship as a decisive moment, a classic marked by Jô's goal and Gabriel's controversial expulsion.

“We started the year with Carille. It was his first job. Nobody believed in us, only we did. There's a specific game that changes the whole outlook of that year, which is the 1-0 against Palmeiras. It was the beginning of the year, we were kind of uncertain in the Paulista Championship, with Carille still choosing the players who would start as starters”, he recalled.

“There's another thing that happens too. Camacho lost his father a day before this game against Palmeiras. A lot happens before this match. Jô goes to the bench. He comes in, sprints to the area to score and another sprint to make the goal […] A day before Camacho's father's death, he was going to play. Carille's choice was Maycon. There was the incident with Gabriel and Maycon, where the referee wrongly expelled him”, he added.

In Fellipe Bastos' assessment, the Derby was crucial to changing the team's course that season. After the classic, Corinthians gained confidence, went on a streak of five wins, five draws, and only one loss in the State Championship, and ended up champions against Ponte Preta, with an aggregate score of 4-1. In the second half of the year, the performance was consolidated with the conquest of the Brazilian Championship.

“(The Derby) changes everything for us. Symbiosis. ‘We're going to be champions’. Then Jadson arrives too, an extremely distinguished player. Right after, we face Santos and win at home. And then, the fans come along. Corinthians fans need to be studied, because it's crazy, there's no way, it's madness. I've never seen Corinthians fans boo a player. Of course, the game ends and they demand, but during the game they support. When Corinthians concedes a goal, it seems like they score a goal, because they sing more and louder”, he highlighted.

“We united, thought the same way: players, technical staff, and fans. The press, no. So you have to shield yourself and find motivation. Because when someone doubts and says you won't make it... then we became Paulista champions. The Brazilian Championship starts: ‘No, Corinthians will fight in the middle of the table’, ‘Corinthians will be relegated this year’. At the time, it was ‘Paulistinha’. We won the Paulistinha. Because when you lose, they belittle; when you win, they relativize. It's always like that”, he added.

In total, Fellipe Bastos played 21 matches wearing the Corinthians jersey, achieving 11 wins, seven draws, and three losses, as well as scoring two goals and winning the Paulista and Brazilian Championships in 2017. After leaving the club, the former midfielder played for Sport, Vasco da Gama, Goiás, Avaí, and Amazonas FC.

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