Corinthians in Negotiations with Coach Dorival Júnior Amid Uncertainty

São Paulo, Brazil — The Corinthians football club is in ongoing negotiations to hire coach Dorival Júnior, but a financial agreement has yet to be reached. Fabinho Soldado, the club’s director, returned to São Paulo after two days of discussions in Florianópolis.

Fabinho’s return coincides with Corinthians’ match against Racing-URU in the Copa Sul-Americana, which kicks off at 7 p.m. at the Neo Química Arena. During his trip, he spoke with Edson Khodor, Dorival’s agent, who is also traveling to São Paulo for further discussions on the contract’s details.

Both the Corinthians and Dorival’s team are eager to resolve the situation quickly. The club has been without a head coach since the dismissal of Ramón Díaz last week, following two consecutive losses in the Brasileirão. They urgently want a replacement for their upcoming matches.

The club is reportedly offering a contract that extends until 2026, coinciding with the end of current president Augusto Melo’s term. Although Dorival has reportedly severed ties with the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), discussions regarding the termination of his image rights contract are still ongoing.

In recent days, the club attempted to recruit Tite, a former coach, who showed interest but later withdrew due to health concerns. This change has shifted the focus back to Dorival, who is regarded as the top candidate for the role.

Dorival has not held a coaching position since parting ways with the Brazil national team in March. His last club assignment was with São Paulo, where he won the Copa do Brasil in 2023. The ongoing negotiations signal optimism, with a final decision expected soon.

If the negotiations fail, Corinthians may explore alternative candidates, including Luís Castro, though his personal circumstances pose additional challenges for recruitment.