Former Corinthians defender hails Diniz's work: ‘He looks happy’ | OneFootball

Corinthians return to the pitch on Thursday night (29) to face Athletico-PR at 7:30 p.m. (Brasília time) at Neo Química Arena, in the 21st round of the Brazilian Championship. Former center-back Paulo André, who played for both clubs and was part of memorable moments with Timão, previewed the match.

“It’s going to be an extremely difficult match for both sides. Athletico are in excellent form, and Corinthians are also playing good football under Diniz,” the former player said in an interview with ge.globo.

Photo: Rodrigo Coca / Ag. Corinthians

Paulo André has a strong connection with both clubs. The former center-back wore Athletico’s shirt in two spells, from 2005 to 2006 and later from 2016 until retiring in 2019. It was at the Paraná club that he worked with Fernando Diniz in 2018, took part in the Copa Sudamericana and Copa do Brasil title wins, and after leaving the pitch, took over as football director.

For Corinthians, Paulo André played between 2009 and 2014 and was part of one of the most successful periods in the club’s history. During his time at Parque São Jorge, he won titles such as the Copa Libertadores, the Club World Cup, and other major competitions.

Commenting on Corinthians’ current moment, the former defender said he sees progress in Fernando Diniz’s work compared to the period when they worked together at Athletico. Even so, he stressed that the coach remains faithful to the traits that have marked his career.

“Fernando Diniz, without a doubt, keeps his essence. That is non-negotiable. He will always be this intense, genuine guy, with a clear conviction in the way he wants to play. His game, from 2018 to 2026, has evolved a lot, especially tactically and strategically. He keeps his essence of wanting to be the protagonist, of wanting to control the ball. He has been doing a great job at Corinthians. I see him very happy there,”, Paulo André said.

Paulo André began his professional football journey at Guarani, the club that developed him in 2004. After just over a year with the Campinas side, he caught the attention of Athletico-PR, where he quickly established himself as a starter and even wore the captain’s armband. His standout performances in the 2005 Brazilian Championship earned him recognition from Placar magazine as one of the competition’s best center-backs.

His strong performances in Brazilian football opened the door to a move to Le Mans in France. Although he showed quality during his spell in European football, the defender struggled with a series of injuries that limited his continuity. After three seasons abroad, he chose to return to Brazil.

In July 2009, Paulo André arrived at Corinthians on loan. Initially seen as a bench option, he gained space due to the physical problems faced by William and Chicão and began to get a run of games in the team. At the end of his contract with the French club, he terminated the deal and signed permanently with Timão.

After a few seasons as an important part of the squad, the center-back became a starter in 2011 and was one of the standout players in the campaign that ended with Corinthians’ fifth Brazilian league title. For his performances, he was again recognized by Placar, receiving the Bola de Prata as the best center-back in the Brasileirão.

Over five seasons at Parque São Jorge, Paulo André was also part of one of the most successful eras in the club’s history, winning the Copa Libertadores, the Club World Cup, and the Recopa Sudamericana. In total, he played 155 matches in the black-and-white shirt and scored nine goals.

In February 2014, the defender completed his transfer to Shanghai Shenhua of China. The following year, he returned to Brazilian football to play for Cruzeiro and, in 2016, was loaned to Athletico-PR. At the Paraná club, he remained until retiring as a player, later taking on roles in the football department.

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