Corinthians launch inquiry after 30% of Pedro is sold | OneFootball

The board of the Corinthians adopted internal measures after discovering the sale of 30% of the economic rights of the club's former striker, Pedro, who currently belongs to Zenit, during the Augusto Melo administration.

As investigated by the Gazeta Esportiva, Timão activated its legal department and other bodies to investigate if there was a sale of rights of other former athletes of the club that were not disclosed. The black and white board was taken by surprise with the case and wants to make sure that it was an isolated episode.

Corinthians was monitoring the possible sale of Pedro from Zenit to Al-Ittihad, from Saudi Arabia, in a deal that could yield more than R$ 70 million to Timão's coffers. However, on Sunday, it was surprised with the information that the deposed president Augusto Melo negotiated the 30% to which the team was entitled to offset a debt with Elenko Sports, which manages the athlete's career.

According to members of the current board, the sale was not communicated to the club's Guidance Council (Cori) or even to the football executive Fabinho Soldado.

Pedro was sold by Corinthians to Zenit in 2023 (Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians)

Understand the case

The Gazeta Esportiva found that, in August 2024, Augusto Melo sold 30% of the economic rights of Pedro, which belonged to the club, for 6.7 million euros (about R$ 39 million at the time). The amount was paid to Corinthians in four installments.

In a note, Augusto claimed that the agreement was made to pay a debt to businessman Fernando Garcia. He says he received approval from the Legal and Financial Departments.

Timão's debt with businessman Fernando Garcia, from Elenko Sports, was listed as R$ 10.9 million in the 2023 financial balance. In the 2024 report, the pending amount was recorded as zero. Corinthians, therefore, paid off the debt it had with the agent. The rest of the amount remained in the black and white coffers.

Former president Duilio Monteiro Alves also spoke out. He denied any debt with Zenit, however, he did not mention a possible pending with Elenko Sports.

And now?

With this, if Pedro's sale is finalized, Corinthians will only receive about R$ 5.5 million, referring to FIFA's solidarity mechanism.

The transfer window in Saudi Arabia is open until September 10. The possible transfer would help the club in some way. Timão, it is worth saying, has not yet managed to overturn a transfer ban and suffers from a series of other financial issues.

Treated as a promise in the base, the young player left Corinthians at only 17 years old. At the time, Pedro was sold to the Russians for 9 million euros (about R$ 47 million at that time).

The Son of Terrão played only 22 matches for the black and white team, with one goal scored.

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