Corinthians target Roberto Firmino if Yuri Alberto leaves next window

Corinthians faces a crossroads in the offensive sector. With Série A’s worst attack in 2026, just 14 goals in 16 matches, the black and white board began to evaluate alternatives if Yuri Alberto, current number 9, leaves the club. Roberto Firmino, Al-Sadd’s attacker, emerged as a replacement option among Timão’s advisors, but the signing faces considerable financial obstacles.

Yuri Alberto has publicly demonstrated that he intends to leave in the next transfer window. Seu’s performance fell drastically compared to previous seasons, directly reflecting the team’s creation of offensive opportunities. The situation motivated the club’s leadership to draw up a plan B if the departure takes place.

Cenário conditioned for sale by Yuri Alberto

Roberto Firmino will only be sought after if Corinthians manages to sell its starting center forward. The strategy reveals that the club does not plan to maintain both athletes simultaneously, indicating severe budget restrictions. Management is awaiting a proposal of around 20 to 25 million euros for its percentage of Yuri Alberto’s economic rights.

Atualmente there is no negotiation or prior contact between Corinthians and Firmino. The name circulates behind the scenes at the club as a theoretical possibility, but considered very difficult to achieve due to the financial issues involved.

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The salary challenge

The biggest obstacle to an eventual hiring of Roberto Firmino lies in his remuneration at Arábia Saudita. The ex-Liverpool player currently receives R$11 million per month on Al-Sadd. Para accepts the Corinthians uniform, the player would need to agree to a drastic reduction in his salaries—an unlikely move for an athlete of his experience and international prestige.

Corinthians’s payroll is already operating with difficulties. Signing a player with this salary structure would represent a financial impact that is incompatible with the club’s current reality. Mesmo with the sale of Yuri Alberto, the amounts raised would primarily be used for defensive strengthening and the payment of accumulated debts.

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Números and relevance in Arábia Saudita

In the 2025/2026 season, Roberto Firmino scored 17 goals and contributed 9 assists in 33 matches played for Al-Sadd. The striker continues to be an important player for the Saudi club, with a contract valid until June 2027.

Essa contractual continuity offers Brazilians a relevant opportunity. Aos 34 years old, Firmino can sign a pre-contract with any club from the second half of 2026, six months before the end of his current contract. Esse device could facilitate a possible negotiation with the Corinthians, allowing the structuring of an agreement without immediate costs.

Contexto from the Corinthian offensive crisis

The failure of Corinthians’s offensive sector in 2026 exceeds Yuri Alberto’s individual performance. The team records structural problems ranging from the creation of spaces to completion. Apenas 14 goals in 16 rounds indicate a tactical gap that a simple replacement of players is unlikely to resolve.

The parallel board recognizes this scenario. Therefore, the search for Roberto Firmino is not an isolated solution, but part of a broader project of offensive restructuring. Contudo, the execution of this plan will depend heavily on the negotiation capacity and revenue that the club is able to generate in the coming months.

Próximos steps

Corinthians awaits movements in its own market before formalizing any approach with Firmino. The departure of Yuri Alberto is a sine qua non for this advancement. Enquanto that, the name of the ex-Liverpool player remains an aspirational theoretical possibility, but far from the current financial reality of Timão.