Corinthians face season-defining July amid transfer scramble | OneFootball

Corinthians are gearing up for a demanding July following their extended midseason break, according to UOL. The club, currently under Dorival Júnior’s leadership and managed by interim president Osmar Stabile, faces a stretch that could shape the narrative of their season across both the Brasileirão and the Copa do Brasil.

The São Paulo side resume competitive action on July 13, hosting Red Bull Bragantino at Neo Química Arena for the 13th round of the league. From there, Corinthians embark on a busy run that sees them travel to Ceará on July 16, play a key Majestoso against São Paulo at Morumbis just three days later, and tackle Cruzeiro at home on July 23. Encounters with Botafogo away on July 26 and a high-profile derby versus Palmeiras—marking the Copa do Brasil round of 16 first leg on July 30—complete a challenging month.

Corinthians have had a subdued start to the campaign and are tenth in the standings with 16 points, following a goalless draw with Vitória prior to the break. The club’s difficulties extend into the transfer market: work continues behind the scenes to strengthen the squad, with particular attention on attacking reinforcements. Biel—formerly of Bahia and most recently at Sporting in Portugal—is a top target, but the move is complicated by Corinthians’ financial limitations. The departures of Alex Santana and Igor Coronado have created some room on the payroll, while Diego Palacios could also depart, having attracted interest from an MLS team in the United States.

There’s an element of urgency for Dorival’s squad to find form as the league resumes. The club’s sluggish start has put pressure on the technical staff to deliver results quickly, especially with the added weight of a derby against Palmeiras in a knockout setting waiting at the end of July.

The club’s management are also actively seeking to reinforce the group before this run begins, looking to add quality without stretching resources. The pursuit of Biel remains ongoing, yet Sporting’s asking price of around €7 million poses a challenge for Corinthians’ budget.

Ahead of the squad’s return, the fixture list offers little margin for error. The technical staff know that how Corinthians handle this series of matches could be decisive for both domestic and cup objectives.

(Source: UOL)

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