Corinthians set firm transfer stance amid financial storm | OneFootball

Corinthians are entering the crucial stages of the transfer market with plans focused on squad reinforcement rather than high-profile sales, according to sporting director Fabinho Soldado. Responding to ongoing speculation about potential offers for club top scorer Yuri Alberto, Fabinho made it clear that the striker is not currently the subject of any formal approaches.

“We don't have anything concrete for us to sit and discuss,” Fabinho stated after the Copa do Brasil round of 16 draw. Labeling Yuri Alberto “a great player in a great moment,” he acknowledged that several Corinthians squad members are targets for other teams, but underlined the club's preference to keep the current core together. “Our mission is to maintain the squad. The idea is to keep the group and certainly think about reinforcing it in order to achieve our goals this year.”

Yuri Alberto, 24, has maintained his status as one of the most valuable assets at the club, having finished last season as Brazil's top scorer with 31 goals and currently sitting atop Corinthians’ scoring charts for the 21st century with 70 goals.

Fabinho’s comments arrive amid a tense period for Corinthians supporters, who voiced their frustrations following the team’s latest goalless draw against Vitória. The club’s mixed results have placed even greater importance on the coming transfer window and unlocked the possibility of tactical or personnel adjustments ahead of a major derby clash, with city rivals Palmeiras awaiting in the Copa do Brasil last 16. Corinthians will host the first leg in late July before the tie is decided at Allianz Parque.

Off the pitch, financial strains continue to shape the club’s transfer strategy. FIFA has now ordered Corinthians to pay Shakhtar Donetsk €1 million (about R$6.5 million) over unpaid loan fees for midfielder Maycon—covering two separate loan spells between December 2022 and 2024. The club faces a potential ban on registering new players if the debt remains unsettled, though the 45-day payment deadline is currently paused while the matter is under review by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Additional penalties, including interest and fines to both Shakhtar and FIFA, compound the urgency.

Elsewhere, Corinthians have announced a celebratory fixture for the club’s legends. Tickets have gone on sale for a friendly on 5 July at Mercado Livre Arena Pacaembu, featuring past Corinthians greats like Alessandro, Fábio Santos, and Paulinho facing a Boca Juniors side led by former stars such as Pablo Mouche and José Basualdo. The event pays tribute to the 2012 Libertadores final between the clubs.

With financial and competitive pressures mounting, the next weeks promise to test the club’s resolve to balance stability and much-needed evolution on multiple fronts.

Source: Globo