Why a rising star is yet to feature under Diniz at Corinthians | OneFootball

Considered one of the gems of Corinthians’ youth academy, 19-year-old forward Gui Negão is going through a spell on the sidelines.

The player has yet to log any minutes since coach Fernando Diniz arrived, having last played on March 22 against Flamengo in the Brazilian Championship.

Because of this, ge detailed the reasons behind the youngster’s absence from Timão’s recent matches:

1. The impact of the injury

The lack of playing time began for medical reasons. Shortly after the match against Flamengo, Gui Negão suffered a strain in the hamstring of his right thigh during a Brazil U-20 training session held at CT Joaquim Grava itself. The issue kept him out for more than a month, and he was only included in the squad again on May 3 against Mirassol.

2. The adjustment period under the new coach

Since being cleared by the medical department, the forward has been on the bench for nine matches but has not been used. Asked after the comeback win over Grêmio, Fernando Diniz explained the decision based on timing and the amount of work done:

"I've been here for less than two months, and Gui Negão has been with me for less than a month in condition to take part. There are other players who were more familiar with the work. (...) It's a matter of opportunity—it's not possible to put in ten players. You only have five substitutions."

3. Praise behind the scenes, but strong competition

Despite not getting on the field, the coach made a point of praising the youngster’s dedication in training and his connection to the club. At the moment, Gui Negão is competing for a spot with Yuri Alberto and Pedro Raul — who, despite going through a low-scoring spell, had been more actively involved in Diniz’s initial methods.

This season, the young forward has made 12 appearances, played 637 minutes, and scored one goal.

Next steps

Now, the coaching staff and squad will have plenty of time to align their work. Corinthians are on vacation until June 25 due to the break for the 2026 World Cup. The team will only return to the field on July 12 for a friendly against Cascavel in Paraná.

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

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