Fernando Diniz downplays Yuri Alberto drought and underlines his importance to Corinthians | OneFootball

Fernando Diniz downplayed Yuri Alberto’s nine-game goal drought after Corinthians’ 3-2 win against São Paulo at Neo Química Arena, insisting the striker remains central and that the goals are close.

According to Meu Timao, Diniz praised the forward’s all-round work, highlighting his assists, running and battles with defenders, and said a sustained scoring run could be a matter of time.

Alberto last scored on 9 April 2026, netting the second in a 2-0 victory over Platense at Estadio Ciudad Vicente López, the club’s Libertadores opener and Diniz’s first match in charge.

The same barren sequence has occurred only twice since his 2022 arrival, once in 2024 and again in 2025. In 2024 he struck twice in a 26 June draw with Atlético Goianiense, then did not score again until 25 July against Grêmio.

In 2025 he hit the only goal in a Copa do Brasil win over Novorizontino on 24 May, then next scored on 28 September in a league defeat to Flamengo, after missing several games through injury.

If he fails to score in the next match, he will equal his longest Corinthians drought of 10 games, set in 2023. He is still the club’s top scorer this season with five goals.

His next opportunity arrives on Thursday, when Corinthians host Barra-SC at Neo Química Arena at 19:30 in the Copa do Brasil fifth-phase second leg. A draw will be enough to reach the last 16 after a 1-0 first-leg win sealed by Jesse Lingard.

Source: Meu Timao