Corinthians target Fluminense full-back, Fortaleza midfielder

In partnership with

Central do Timão

·10 janvier 2026

Corinthians target Fluminense full-back, Fortaleza midfielder

By Henrique Pereira / Central do Timão Editorial Team

Corinthians remains active in the market after the end of the transfer ban and is evaluating different options to strengthen the squad for the 2026 season. Among the names being considered by the black-and-white board are left-back Gabriel Fuentes, from Fluminense, and midfielder Matheus Pereira, a standout for Fortaleza in the second half of 2025.

In the defensive sector, Timão has made an inquiry to Fluminense regarding left-back Gabriel Fuentes. According to information from Meu Timão, the São Paulo club is studying the possibility of a loan for the Colombian player. The board is not considering a permanent transfer, prioritizing a temporary loan, a stance already internally agreed upon by the club's leadership.

Vidéos OneFootball

Photo: Fluminense/Disclosure

Fuentes, 28 years old, has a contract with the Rio de Janeiro club until August 2028. Fluminense has even strengthened the position recently by signing Guilherme Arana. In 2025, the left-back played in 28 of the team’s 77 official matches, starting in 24 of them, and contributed five assists. However, the player faced physical issues throughout the year, missing almost 20 games due to a thigh injury between March and April, and a knee strain between July and August.

Revealed by Barranquilla FC, Colombia, Fuentes stood out at Junior Barranquilla, where he played from 2018 to 2024. During this period, he also had a loan spell at Zaragoza, Spain, before signing with Fluminense. On some occasions, he was even used further forward, as a left-sided midfielder.

If negotiations progress, Fuentes would compete for the position with Matheus Bidu, the current starting left-back, and Hugo Farias, the immediate backup. At the same time, Corinthians is in talks to renew the contract of Fabrizio Angileri, which expired on December 31.

Matheus Pereira

Photo: Mateus Lotif/Fortaleza

In midfield, another name that has come onto Corinthians’ radar is Matheus Pereira, an important player for Fortaleza in the final stretch of last season. According to the newspaper O Povo, the number 5 from Tricolor do Pici is now being evaluated by the black-and-white football department as an alternative to fill the gap left by Maycon, who transferred to Atlético-MG, despite a verbal agreement for him to remain at Parque São Jorge.

The Corinthians board is analyzing the situation cautiously and acknowledges that negotiations with Fortaleza are likely to be complex. The São Paulo club’s initial idea is to seek a loan, in line with the “moderate investment” policy set for 2026. Fortaleza, on the other hand, prioritizes a permanent sale, seeking a financially attractive return.

It is worth noting that Matheus Pereira came up through Corinthians’ own youth system. The midfielder left Timão in 2016, heading to Juventus, Italy. He also played for Empoli (Italy), Bordeaux and Dijon (France), Paraná Clube, Barcelona B and Eibar (Spain), before joining Fortaleza.

In addition to Timão, the midfielder has also attracted interest from Athletico, Vitória, and clubs abroad after the end of the 2025 Série A. So far, however, no official offers have been made to the Ceará club. Signed by Fortaleza in May, Matheus Pereira played 20 matches last season, scoring two goals and providing three assists.

While evaluating market possibilities, Corinthians is preparing for its official debut of the year. The team will take the field next Sunday at 4 p.m. against Ponte Preta, at Neo Química Arena, for the first round of the Campeonato Paulista.

See More: