Maycon on choosing Atlético-MG over Corinthians in BH arrival

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Central do Timão

·9 Januari 2026

Maycon on choosing Atlético-MG over Corinthians in BH arrival

By Fabio Luigi / Central do Timão Editorial Team

On the evening of this Thursday (8), midfielder Maycon landed in Belo Horizonte to undergo medical exams and sign a three-year contract with Atlético-MG after not staying at Corinthians, the club where he spent three years on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk, Ukraine.

Earlier this afternoon, the Minas Gerais team confirmed the agreement with the player who, upon his arrival at the airport, explained his choice for Atlético-MG’s project. The former Corinthians number 7 also revealed conversations with defender Lyanco, his wife Lyrah’s brother. In addition, both athletes share the same agent, who is the father of the defender and his wife.

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Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

“Atlético-MG’s project is very attractive for us players, it’s a project that pleases us a lot. It was a three-way negotiation, Atlético, Corinthians, and Shakhtar (Donetsk) were involved, and we had to look at all the points so that everyone would be satisfied. I’m happy to be here, happy that it worked out. Now it’s time to do the medical exams so we can start working as soon as possible. I did talk to Lyanco, but the family aspect was the last point we considered. I have to look at the professional side, and Atlético-MG’s side attracted me a lot, that weighed most in my decision,” he stated.

The 28-year-old midfielder’s loan contract with Corinthians ended on December 31, and since then, the club had been trying to keep the player. At the end of last season, football executive Fabinho Soldado, who left the club at the end of 2025, had reached an agreement with the Ukrainians for a three-year contract, with Shakhtar retaining 50% of the economic rights.

However, after the arrival of executive Marcelo Paz, right after Christmas, Corinthians reduced the offer to two years and moved away from keeping the player. At the same time, Atlético-MG offered a three-year deal – a requirement from the Ukrainian club – as well as a higher salary than what Corinthians offered. In the final moments, Corinthians decided to return to the three-year contract proposal. However, by then, the Belo Horizonte team had already taken the lead in negotiations and ended up winning the race for the player.

A product of Corinthians’ youth academy and champion of the Copinha in 2015, Maycon scored 18 goals and provided 16 assists in 248 matches for Corinthians, winning five titles: Paulistão (2017, 2018, and 2025), Campeonato Brasileiro (2017), and Copa do Brasil (2025). The midfielder left Parque São Jorge in mid-2018 (his first stint with the senior team began in 2016 and lasted until mid-2018) and returned in February 2022 on loan – a condition in which he remained at the club with the Ukrainian team until 2025.

After a few seasons struggling with injuries, Maycon found more consistency on the field since coach Dorival Júnior’s arrival at the end of April. In total, he played 43 matches in 2025, scoring three goals and providing one assist. He was an important player, captain, and starter in this year’s Copa do Brasil victory against Vasco da Gama at Maracanã.

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