Pedro Raul on ‘second chance’ at Corinthians, chats with Dorival Júnior

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Central do Timão

·18 de janeiro de 2026

Pedro Raul on ‘second chance’ at Corinthians, chats with Dorival Júnior

By Fabio Luigi / Central do Timão Editorial Team

On the afternoon of this Sunday (18th), Corinthians and São Paulo faced off at the Neo Química Arena and ended in a 1-1 draw. The goal for the Alvinegro was scored by midfielder Breno Bidon, already in the final stretch of the second half. With this result, the Alvinegro sits in seventh place with four points – only the top eight advance to the knockout stage of the tournament.

Minutes after the end of the match, forward Pedro Raul, who provided the assist for the equalizing goal, gave an interview to the press in the mixed zone and spoke about his return to Corinthians after spending the 2025 season on loan at Ceará, where he scored 17 goals and provided two assists in 45 matches. In addition, the number 18 detailed the pass to Breno Bidon, after holding up the play inside the box, and analyzed the draw.

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Photo: Reproduction/Central do Timão

“I think my smile at every training session says it all. I was very happy and motivated to be back here. I was happy with the pass to Breno, and he was even happier to score the goal. That’s it, we wanted to win. We played a good game, São Paulo had one chance and scored. That’s how a derby is, very hard-fought, and that’s it. We don’t celebrate the draw, but we also have to value our effort and keep seeking results. I believe that if we had five more minutes, we could have turned the game around, but today it was like this. This point is important for us,” he began.

He later revealed conversations with coach Dorival Júnior about his return to Parque São Jorge and commented on the possibility of fighting for a starting spot at Corinthians. Currently, the attacking options are: Yuri Alberto, Memphis Depay, Kayke, Vitinho, Dieguinho, and Gui Negão.

“(Dorival Jr) Talked to me, he told me what he wants, there’s still a lot to improve, he helped me a lot. He already told me what he expects from me and I’m evolving day by day, the competition is very tough. At Corinthians, that’s normal, but I have to be ready so that when I get opportunities, I respond in the best way possible. I have to give my best in training and, when I get the chance, play more and more and help my teammates,” he said.

Pedro Raul was signed by Corinthians from Toluca, Mexico, for five million dollars (R$ 25 million), at the end of January 2024. In his first season with the Alvinegro, he didn’t have many opportunities under Mano Menezes (played one game – the coach was dismissed soon after), Antônio Oliveira, and Ramón Díaz. After standing out at Ceará in 2025, the number 18 returned to the club and has already played three matches, two coming off the bench in the final minutes and one as a starter, against RB Bragantino, last midweek.

Finally, he also emphasized that with previous coaching staffs he didn’t feel the confidence he now feels with Dorival Júnior’s staff: “I said that now I have the confidence I didn’t have before, so that does me good and brings out the best in me. For an athlete, that’s extremely important and now I have to seize the opportunities, train, always looking to improve so that when the opportunities come, I can respond to the best of my ability.” he concluded.

Wearing the Corinthians shirt, he has played 42 matches (15 as a starter), scoring four goals and providing three assists. He was part of the squad that pulled off the historic comeback in the 2024 Brasileirão (from the relegation zone to the Pré-Libertadores and a spot in the 2025 Copa do Brasil). Last year, he started the season with the Alvinegro, playing six games, and during the group stage of the Paulistão, he moved to Ceará.

Now, after drawing with São Paulo at home, Corinthians remains focused on the Campeonato Paulista. Next Thursday (22nd), the Alvinegro returns to the pitch to face Santos, at 7:30 pm (Brasília time), at Vila Belmiro, for the fourth round of the first phase of the 2026 Paulistão.

Corinthians assist ranking in 2026:

1) Vitinho (three games), Ryan (one game), and Pedro Raul (three games) – one assist each

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