Corinthians chief backs Dorival, updates on Depay contract talks

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Central do Timão

·21 octobre 2025

Corinthians chief backs Dorival, updates on Depay contract talks

By Fabio Luigi / Central do Timão Editorial Team

The Corinthians football executive, Fabinho Soldado, gave an exclusive interview to ESPN Brasil and was questioned about the work of coach Dorival Júnior. The executive expressed support for the coach and stated that he has been recovering some players and promoting tactical variations even with a large number of difficulties.

Since he was hired at the end of April, there have been 13 wins, nine draws, and eight losses in 30 games – 31 goals scored and 24 conceded. The success rate is 53%. Fabinho also commented on the recent speculations about a possible departure from his position at the end of the year, stating that the decision is up to President Osmar Stabile.

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Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

"Talking about the future... The issue of Dorival, mine, any professional, it's up to the president. Dorival is very enthusiastic, and I am too. We have goals this year, and I am very satisfied with what Dorival has been developing. He is a coach who can work with the club's structure, revealing new players, believing in them, having the capability, experience, and courage to invest in these players. Today, we have four, five players who are club assets, who earn a higher salary, and their market values have improved. This is work that needs to be highlighted.”

He continued: "He has been recovering players who, at some point, were somewhat forgotten; this is part of football. We believe he has been doing his best. In some games, he manages, within the same match, in the last game, he moved from a line of 5 to a line of 4. He manages, even with absences, to create good movements. He is a successful coach. Until yesterday, he was the national team coach. We hope he delivers, continues to deliver, the best, so that both in the Brazilian Championship and the Copa do Brasil we can achieve our goals," he began.

Later, the executive was asked about recent financial issues with FIFA. Corinthians has a debt of R$ 40 million for the signing of defender Félix Torres from Santos Laguna, Mexico, for the player's signing in January 2024. The club has appealed to CAS and is awaiting the decision's publication. Recently, the club made the second installment payment to the CNRD for the renegotiation of the debt for the signing of midfielder Raniele from Cuiabá at the beginning of last year.

"It's a case that our president is handling personally, directly, with his team, to resolve all these issues. It's not easy. The president faced a very big challenge; Corinthians has had a difficult history for some time. All these areas, all the issues involving financial and legal matters, have competent people taking care of them," he continued.

Fabinho Soldado also emphasized the team's focus on the final stretch of the Brazilian Championship and the Copa do Brasil semifinal against Cruzeiro: "Today, I need to focus on sports. Of course, daily conversations happen, but at this time of the year, with less than two months left in the season, I need to focus on what will bring immediate results. The sports result is to improve in the Brazilian Championship and reach the final of the Copa do Brasil."

Later, he was questioned about the contract renewal with forward Memphis Depay, who has a contract valid until July 2026. Since his arrival at Parque São Jorge, he has scored 15 goals and provided 14 assists in 55 games (43 as a starter), being crucial in the team's surge in the last Brazilian Championship and the Paulista Championship victory in 2025.

"Depay is a player who is already integrated. He has an active contract. We hope to count on him and everyone, finish the year well, and start planning for a much better 2026 than 2025," he said.

Finally, he projected the final stretch of the 2025 season, given the proximity of the Copa do Brasil semifinals against Cruzeiro, and the Brazilian Championship, in which Corinthians has a decisive match this weekend, away, against Vitória, for the 30th round of the national competition. Currently, Corinthians is in 11th place with 36 points.

"Yes, we are qualified (for the Copa do Brasil semifinals). We have had a very important campaign so far, but honestly, we need to work on the Brazilian Championship day by day. It's a super difficult championship, we have great challenges. We can't forget, take out of context, these two Copa do Brasil games. But we do think a lot, every round, about the Brazilian Championship. We played an important game against Atlético-MG, the team played with a lot of authority, we got a result that greatly improved our position in the Brazilian Championship, but we still have points that don't guarantee us yet."

"The focus is really on thinking about Vitória, an extremely difficult game away. Then, of course, we know there's a very important opportunity this year to achieve another goal, which is to reach the Copa do Brasil final, but for that, we need to do well in the Brazilian Championship. We want to reach that game (Copa do Brasil) in a better condition (in the Brazilian Championship). Dorival said this, and that's our thought," he concluded.

Gustavo Henrique

Defender Gustavo Henrique gave an interview to the same outlet and commented on the team's performance in the Brazilian Championship, highlighting the need for performance improvement, especially away from home. The number 13 also mentioned that the team's focus is on the Copa do Brasil semifinals against Cruzeiro. The defender has been one of Corinthians' pillars this year and recently renewed his contract until December 2027.

"Our goal is to elevate the club in the Brazilian Championship, and we can. We have been quite inconsistent, which is something we have been demanding a lot from ourselves, especially away from home. We manage to impose our rhythm in home games, get the results, but away from home, we really need to improve, and our focus is to reach the top, as high as we can. We know that our total focus, our main goal, is actually already thinking about the Copa do Brasil semifinal, which is our big goal this year, but we can't forget that there are still many games in the Brazilian Championship, and we will continue working to raise this level in the standings," he said.

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