Brazilian midfielder Igor Coronado is enjoying a meteoric rise in Saudi Arabia, where he wears number 10 at Al-Ittihad, the country’s defending champions. Although little known in Brazilian football, Coronado is attracting more and more interest among national clubs.
He came close to making his homeland debut recently, with concrete offers from clubs including Botafogo, Vasco, Flamengo and São Paulo. The interest generated by these Brazilian clubs surprised the player who said in an interview with ge that he did not expect to receive so many offers.
At 30, Igor Coronado is currently experiencing the best moment of his career. His journey began on the grounds of Vila Recreio in Londrina, Brazil, before taking him to play in several European countries, including England, Switzerland and Malta.
However, it was in Italy, with Palermo, that he really began to stand out. In 2018, he joined the United Arab Emirates before joining Al-Ittihad in 2021, in a record transfer between Arab clubs, for a fee of 12 million dollars.
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Igor Coronado quickly made his mark with Al-Ittihad by winning the Super Cup and the championship this season, even beating Al-Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo’s team. The creative midfielder pointed to the considerable pressure on the team, as the club hadn’t won the league for 14 years.
The victory was therefore all the more gratifying for him and his teammates. Coronado also expressed his excitement when he was able to play against Cristiano Ronaldo in meetings with Al-Nassr, describing the experience as special and highlighting the talent of the Portuguese player.
As an attacking midfielder, Igor Coronado was able to establish himself in the Al-Ittihad team, becoming a key element with 54 games played in two seasons. He scored 11 goals and made 26 assists, a testament to his playmaking skills. Coronado said he felt comfortable in the number 10 role, playing behind the team’s main striker.
He also highlighted his versatility, having even played as a defensive midfielder this season. His impressive performances have won the admiration of his Brazilian teammates such as Marcelo Grohe and Romarinho who also play at Al-Ittihad.
Igor Coronado confident about reinforcements from Benzema and Kanté in Al-Ittihad
The Al-Ittihad team has recently strengthened its squad with the arrival of two renowned players: N’Golo Kanté, former Chelsea player, and Karim Benzema, former Real Madrid player. Coronado was delighted with these recruits, stressing that they would undeniably improve the team. With participation in the Club World Cup in sight, Igor Coronado is confident about the progress of the team and the contributions these new players will make.
The Brazilian creative midfielder hopes to develop a good relationship with Benzema on the pitch and contribute to the team’s success. He considers Al-Ittihad to have a solid group and an excellent coach, and believes that all the conditions are in place for it to work. As for his own career, Coronado sees his stay in Saudi Arabia as a showcase and an opportunity for Brazilians to discover him and appreciate his talent.
