Yuri Alberto eyes major milestone for Corinthians v Ceará | OneFootball

The forward Yuri Alberto is very close to achieving a special milestone for Corinthians, which could happen in the match against Ceará. If he takes the field this Sunday, in the 33rd round of the Brazilian Championship, the number 9 will reach the mark of 200 games wearing the Timão jersey.

The tendency is for Yuri Alberto to start as a starter in Corinthians' attack, once again forming a duo alongside Memphis Depay. Even more special for the forward will be reaching the milestone at the Neo Química Arena, the black-and-white stadium where he is the top scorer.

“Man, I remember when I arrived, I don't remember if it was Fagner who was reaching a similar milestone, 200 or 250 games. Then I said: ‘Wow, man, that's a lot of games’ [laughs]. And today, reaching this great milestone is very gratifying. We've been through very good times, difficult times too, but all of them served for us to be where we are today,” celebrated the player in an interview with Corinthians TV.

Journey at Corinthians

Yuri Alberto joined Corinthians on August 26, 2022, when he was announced as a new reinforcement for the club on loan, which would last until mid-2023. After a lackluster start, the striker found his form with a 'perfect' hat-trick and was decisive for Timão's qualification to the semifinals of the Copa do Brasil.

The three goals in the qualification against Atlético-GO at the Arena were chosen by the forward as one of his best moments at the club. The third goal of the hat-trick, with a chip shot, holds a special place in the top scorer's heart.

“There were positive moments, which were my first goals here at the club, in a match where we had to fight back because it wasn't very positive, and I managed to score a hat-trick at the Arena. My first goal at the Arena and my first hat-trick for Corinthians… There are many special moments with this jersey. I think the most beautiful goal is the chip shot [laughs],” commented the athlete.

Yuri Alberto celebrating a goal against Atlético-GO (Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians)

Still in 2022, the forward flourished under the command of Vítor Pereira, and in January of the following year, Corinthians secured the permanent purchase of 50% of the player's rights, signing a contract until 2027. In 2023, Yuri experienced a long drought and had a quieter season for Timão, with 15 goals and seven assists in 63 games.

At the beginning of 2024, Yuri also went through a difficult time under the command of Mano Menezes, when the coach questioned if the forward “was dumb”. A few days later, Mano was dismissed, and António Oliveira was hired. With the Portuguese coach, the striker revived and experienced a good moment with the black-and-white jersey.

In the final stretch of last season, Yuri became part of a trio that gained its own nickname at Corinthians. Under the command of Ramón Díaz, the forward shone and shared the team's spotlight with Memphis Depay and Rodrigo Garro, forming the ‘GYM trio’.

The most memorable moment for the number 9, however, was his first title with the Corinthians jersey. This season, Timão defeated rival Palmeiras in the final and lifted the Paulista Championship. Yuri Alberto was decisive for the victory by scoring the only goal of the match, in the first game, at Allianz Parque.

Yuri Alberto with the Paulista trophy (Photo: Alexandre Battibugli/Ag. Paulistão)

Yuri thanks the Fiel fans

Yuri Alberto's best season with the Corinthians jersey was in 2024, when the striker scored in eight consecutive matches under Ramón Díaz's command. The number 9 finished that season as the top scorer in Brazil, with 31 goals and seven assists.

This season, Yuri has experienced ups and downs. The main moment, of course, was the goal that secured the Paulista title. However, another situation that stood out, this time negatively, was the chipped penalty against Flamengo, saved by goalkeeper Rossi.

Despite the decision he acknowledged was wrong, Yuri Alberto was not abandoned by the Fiel Torcida. Quite the opposite. The number 9 had his name chanted in the next game, against Mirassol, and redeemed himself by scoring. He thanked the fans for their support, even in difficult times.

“It lives up to the name, right? Fiel [laughs]. They were very loyal to me, and I will always be loyal to you too. Just thank you so much for the support in good times and difficult times too. Thank you for always being with me, and let's go for more,” concluded the athlete.

This year, Yuri Alberto has 16 goals and two assists in 50 matches. He is the team's top scorer of the season, with seven more goals than Memphis Depay.

Yuri Alberto's Numbers with the Corinthians Jersey

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