Corinthians rules out Willian’s return – understand the reason

The São Paulo club denies the possibility of repatriating Willian, citing age, high cost, and image issues as determining factors
by
sambafoot_admin
2024-08-17 11:27:06

Willian’s recent departure from Fulham in England has reignited discussions among Corinthians fans about a possible return of the 36-year-old forward to the club that launched his career.

However, according to ge, this possibility has been completely ruled out by the club’s management. Several factors contribute to this decision, all indicating that Willian does not fit the profile of reinforcements Corinthians is seeking at this time.

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Reasons Corinthians does not want Willian

The main factor preventing Willian’s return is his age. The Corinthians management is focused on signing younger players who can provide both sporting and financial returns to the club in the future.

Additionally, the high cost involved in a potential signing of Willian, which includes salaries, bonuses, and other expenses, makes the deal unfeasible for a club facing serious financial challenges.

Even though he plays in a position where Corinthians still has needs, the cost-benefit of repatriating Willian is considered unfavorable.

Negative impact of his departure

Another point weighing against Willian’s return is how he left Corinthians in 2022. At that time, the player requested to terminate his contract after suffering a series of threats and insults on social media, which also affected his wife and daughters.

Although Willian justified his departure as a matter of family safety, his decision was poorly received by some fans and the club’s management. This negatively impacted how Willian’s image could be commercially leveraged in a potential return. The difficulty in “selling” Willian’s name to fans and investors is a factor the management does not overlook.

In his statements after leaving Corinthians, Willian was direct in addressing the reasons for his departure.

“When I returned to Brazil, I came back with a strong desire to play for Corinthians. I knew about the pressure, the demands, and the criticism I would receive, but I didn’t come to Brazil to be threatened, to have my family threatened every time we lost a game or if I didn’t play well,” the player stated. He emphasized that the emotional impact on his daughters was one of the main factors in his decision to leave.

Successful stint at Fulham

Since leaving Corinthians, Willian has played 67 matches for Fulham, scoring ten goals and providing seven assists, showing that he still has the quality to contribute on the field. However, these numbers were not enough to convince Corinthians to reconsider their position.