Corinthians call in legal team over Martínez after knee injury and late return | OneFootball

Corinthians have involved their legal department as they weigh action over José Martínez, who returned 35 days late and was found to have a serious knee injury.

According to Globo.com, tests on Monday identified a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in the Venezuelan midfielder's left knee, a development that stunned the football department.

Club officials had planned to meet to decide a sanction for the delayed report, intending to issue the largest salary deduction allowed by law, given he is a repeat offender. Once the injury was confirmed, lawyers were brought into the discussion.

A meeting on Tuesday gathered representatives from the legal and finance boards, football executive Marcelo Paz, head coach Dorival Júnior and president Osmar Stabile. There is no decision yet, but dissatisfaction is considerable, and Paz and Dorival have already acknowledged publicly that the delay troubled them.

When Martínez reached CT Joaquim Grava on Saturday, he immediately reported knee pain, something that irked staff given the length of his absence.

The review has noted that Martínez played in a festive match in Maracaibo on 26 December 2025. In January he posted images of physical training while waiting in Venezuela for a new passport.

Officials do not yet know when the injury occurred, and accept they might never establish that precisely.

Martínez excelled in Corinthians' final game of last season, the Copa do Brasil triumph against Vasco on 21 December. He has now rejoined injured, and there is a risk he may not play again this year.

Source: Globo.com