Matheus Donelli makes Shabab Al Ahli debut after five-month wait | OneFootball

Matheus Donelli made his Shabab Al Ahli debut on Tuesday in a friendly against Italian side Udinese, five months after joining on loan from Corinthians.

Picked by André Jardine, the goalkeeper saved a 27th-minute penalty to his left and blocked the rebound. He later conceded after the break, yet Shabab Al Ahli won 2-1. According to Central do Timão, a permanent move at the end of the new loan is not ruled out.

He has been at the club since six February, with an initial loan to 30 June, and was not even announced or listed for official games. The agreement included an automatic extension to year end, and staff assessments of the 24-year-old are positive. He remains contracted to Corinthians until 31 December 2028.

Donelli is working to obtain United Arab Emirates citizenship, required because foreign goalkeepers cannot be registered under local rules. The process needs a local passport and extensive paperwork, handled by his representatives and the club, with an expectation the remaining steps are completed during the renewed spell.

Progress has also been slowed by external factors. Ramadan began in February, reducing public office hours, and regional instability disrupted the AFC calendar, altering some of Shabab Al Ahli’s fixtures.

Despite the upheaval, the club finished league runners-up, 10 points behind Al-Ain, securing a place in the 2026/27 AFC Champions League. At Corinthians, Donelli had slipped to fourth choice behind Hugo Souza, Kauê and Felipe Longo, and his last squad appearance came in the 1-0 win over Vitória in October 2025.

Source: Meu Timao