U20 defender signs pre-contract with Italian club, leaving Corinthians | OneFootball

The future of center-back Lorenzo, one of the standout players for Corinthians’ Under-20 team in 2026, appears to be settled. According to Itatiaia, the defender has signed a pre-contract with a club in Italy’s Serie C and is expected to join the European team’s senior squad directly after his deal with Timão expires.

Lorenzo’s contract with Corinthians runs until August 21 and, so far, no renewal agreement has been reached. The player’s departure comes after weeks of negotiations between the club and the athlete’s representatives.

Photo: Rodrigo Gazzanel / Corinthians

Central do Timão had previously learned that talks over a renewal were expected to see new developments at the start of this month. At the time, Corinthians’ board was in discussions with the defender’s camp in search of an agreement to keep him at the club, but there were still disagreements preventing a positive outcome.

A starter for much of the season, Lorenzo played 17 matches for the Under-20 side in 2026, scored two goals and provided one assist. In the most recent matches, however, he began alternating between the starting lineup and the bench, while Yago Melo earned more opportunities alongside Iago Machado in defense.

Developed in Corinthians’ youth academy, Lorenzo joined the club as a child and began his journey at Parque São Jorge at the age of 12. The center-back signed his first professional contract in 2023 and, since then, has also taken part in training sessions with the first team during the spells of coaches Vanderlei Luxemburgo and Ramón Díaz.

The defender holds a German passport and had already attracted interest from European clubs. In 2024, he spent approximately three weeks training with AC Milan in Italy. In addition, his name was also on the radar of Sevilla in Spain.

Over the course of his time in Corinthians’ youth ranks, Lorenzo has made 95 appearances across the Under-17 and Under-20 teams, scoring five goals. His release clause for the international market was set at €100 million.

Even with the defender’s imminent departure, Corinthians remain focused on the rest of the season. Having qualified for the quarterfinals of the Brazilian Under-20 Championship, Timão will face Palmeiras in ties scheduled for July 8 and 15, while also competing in the Paulista Championship for the category before the national knockout stage.

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