Corinthians consider ending José Martínez’s contract | OneFootball

By Tiago Salazar

The Corinthians is considering a contract termination with José Martínez. Besides returning late, the Venezuelan midfielder was diagnosed with a severe injury to his left knee and is expected to miss a significant part of this season.

After claiming issues with the reissuance of his passport, Martínez returned to Brazil last Friday and resumed activities at the Dr. Joaquim Grava Training Center the following day. He complained of pain in his left knee and, after undergoing medical examinations, was diagnosed with a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament.

The athlete's last game for Corinthians was the final of the Copa do Brasil against Vasco on December 21, 2025. Six days later, already on vacation, he participated in a festive match in Venezuela.

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The Corinthians board has contacted the legal department and is evaluating the possibility of terminating the player's contract for just cause. The information was first reported by journalist Samir Carvalho and confirmed by Gazeta Esportiva.

The report contacted Domingos Zainaghi, a FIFA lawyer. He explained that José Martínez would have to prove that he was injured while working for the club to avoid termination. Otherwise, Corinthians could break the contract and even receive compensation. The contract is valid until the end of 2027.

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Martínez's delay in reporting back caused discomfort among the Corinthians board and coaching staff. The club even decided not to pay the midfielder's salary for January.

The player traveled to Venezuela to reissue his passport during the holidays. However, during this period, there was a U.S. military attack that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, causing delays in the country's public services.

As a result, Martínez only submitted his new passport application on January 13. Corinthians understands the bureaucratic issues but believes the player could have expedited the process last year.

During his absence, the midfielder missed numerous training sessions and nine matches for Timão. He maintained contact with executive Marcelo Paz but ignored a message from Dorival Júnior. The coach did not hide his dissatisfaction in press conferences.

Signed in 2024, José Martínez has scored two goals and provided two assists in 70 matches for Corinthians, along with two titles: the Paulista Championship and the Copa do Brasil, both in 2025.

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