Martínez requested new passport on 13 January, return to Corinthians still unscheduled | OneFootball

José Martínez remains in Venezuela and has been unable to return to Brazil since the holidays, having applied for a new passport only on 13 January, 10 days after the squad reported back. The club still has no date for his return.

According to Globo.com, the application protocol provides no delivery timeframe and successive expectations have been missed. Martínez has said he will return soon.

Club officials are aware of Venezuela’s fraught political context, with Nicolás Maduro captured and removed from power by the United States on 3 January. Public services were affected by the US attack, which caused delays, although the hierarchy believes the passport could have been resolved before this year.

A new passport was required because his previous document had no empty pages, which prevented immigration stamps for entry and exit.

Corinthians will meet Martínez upon his return to hear his version and may then decide on a punishment.

From afar he has kept in touch with executives, but he did not reply to a message from Dorival Júnior, which irritated the coach. Dorival has made his dissatisfaction public and said Martínez would need to win back team-mates’ trust to earn further opportunities.

Source: Globo.com