Corinthians advances in negotiations over Garro and should avoid a new transfer ban

Corinthians made progress in negotiations with Talleres to end the dispute involving the signing of midfielder Rodrigo Garro and avoid a new FIFA transfer ban. THE Brazilian club signaled payment of approximately US$4 million (around R$ 22.5 million) in cash to Argentines, in addition to paying off the rest of the debt in installments. At the moment, the parties are discussing the deadlines and amounts of the installments that will complete the agreement.

The debt originated in a process opened by Talleres at FIFA in February last year, the football’s highest governing body ordered Corinthians to pay US$3.6 million (R$18.8 million), in addition to a fine of US$722 thousand (R$3.7 million) and interest of 18% from January 17, 2024, when the athlete was hired, per year until the debt is paid off. Estadão found that, in total, the pending issue with the Argentine club currently amounts to approximately US$6.5 million (R$34 million).

The divergence arose because Talleres believed it was entitled to receive US$612,000 relating to operational expenses and transfer taxes. Corinthians, in turn, contested the obligation to pay this amount, which ended up delaying the player’s regularization at the beginning of 2024.

At the time of hiring, in January last year, the Corinthians had already disbursed US$4 million in cash — around R$20.1 million at the price at that time — as part of the agreement signed with Talleres to purchase the midfielder.

By calling FIFA, the Argentine club also requested an advance payment of US$3 million, referring to the installments of the contract that would still expire. The request was based on a clause that provided that, in case of default, all remaining installments could be charged immediately.

In February this year, the president of Corinthians, Osmar Stábile, traveled to Argentina to resolve the dispute. He met with Andrés Fassi, Talleres’ manager, and the directors discussed the best way to end the dispute. The conversation was considered positive, but without a defined agreement.

O agreement with Talleres is one of the priorities of the Corinthians boardwhich in January disbursed R$41.6 million to settle the debt with Santos Laguna, from Mexico, to get rid of the transfer ban after being prevented from registering new athletes for four months.

Since then, the club works on reformulating the squad, betting on players at the end of their contract and free agents on the marketwithout the need for financial compensation to other teams. This was the way found to strengthen the squad amid the club’s debt of R$2.8 billion.

*Estadão Content