On loan from Corinthians, Palacios already tops recent game tally | OneFootball

Left-back Diego Palacios, who belongs to Corinthians and is currently on loan at Universidad Católica of Ecuador, has already racked up more appearances in 2026 than in the previous two years combined since arriving at the black-and-white club.

With seven matches played for the Ecuadorian side this season, the 26-year-old has already surpassed the number of games he played between 2024 and 2025, a period in which he had few opportunities due to physical problems and a lack of continuity.

Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

His most recent appearance came in the 2-0 win over Técnico Universitario in the Ecuadorian Championship, when he came on in the final stretch of the match. The expectation is that the full-back will once again be an option in the team’s next fixture, against Libertad this Saturday, in the national competition.

Palacios was signed by Corinthians at the start of 2024, after ending his contract with Los Angeles FC of the United States. At the time, the player was seen as an option at left-back following Fábio Santos’ departure. His contract with the São Paulo club runs until the end of 2027.

However, a string of injuries, especially to his left knee, hampered his continuity with the team. Over the course of his time at Corinthians, the full-back made only four appearances.

In search of more playing time, the player was loaned to Karpaty of Ukraine in 2025, but he was also unable to establish himself there, making only two appearances and being left out of the matchday squad for much of the period.

Then in 2026, Corinthians opted for another loan, this time to Universidad Católica. The deal runs until the end of the season and also represented a reduction in the club’s wage costs.

Since returning to Ecuadorian football, Palacios has been used more frequently, featuring in seven of the team’s 11 matches so far. Even so, all of his appearances have come off the bench, totaling just over 100 minutes on the field.

In previous years, the situation was even more limited. In 2024, he played only once, while in 2025 he totaled five matches, three for Corinthians and two for Karpaty.

Now, with greater regularity, the full-back is looking to regain match rhythm and consistency in his career, while Corinthians monitors the player’s performances with a view to deciding his future at the end of the loan spell.

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