Corinthians ‘to terminate’ José Martínez contract after delayed return and ACL injury | OneFootball

Corinthians are finalising an agreement to terminate the contract of José Martínez, 31, with only signatures outstanding, ESPN reports.

The club will pay 30% of his wages from February to December, excluding January. Despite a contract to December 2027, no salary is due in 2027.

The board have explored an exit since Tuesday after he returned over a month late due to passport problems. Back last Saturday, he had a left ACL rupture that could rule him out of 2026. Corinthians will pay for surgery.

He had travelled home to renew a full passport, then could not return after border closures amid the political crisis. He told the club he applied on 13 January.

Holiday footage showed him in a festive match with a brace on his left knee and limping. He also shared January drills with a personal trainer.

The delay irritated head coach Dorival Júnior and football executive Marcelo Paz, with communication difficult. He was almost a week late after the October FIFA window and was sanctioned.

Signed from Philadelphia Union in August 2024 for 2 million dollars, about R$ 10.9 million, he played 70 times, scored two and assisted two, and helped win the 2025 Paulistão and Copa do Brasil. FIFA later ruled against Corinthians over delayed payment.

Source: Meu Timao