Corinthians is at a financial crossroads that requires severe measures for next year. It will reduce costs, it may end sports activities within the club, dismiss and sell players and find a way to earn more with sponsors and TV rights. With a total consolidated gross debt of R$2.7 billion, the club presented its budget planning for 2026 with a seemingly unimaginable and bold goal: obtaining a surplus of R$12 million.
The plan, approved by the Deliberative Council last Monday, the 15th, bets on a management shock to stop the bleeding observed in the current season and reorganize the Corinthians accounts, which hasn’t happened for years. The conductor of this work is President Osmar Stábile.
The challenge is herculean, given that the deficit accumulated in 2025 showed worrying growth. In just one month, losses grew 13%, reaching R$204.2 million by October. To give you an idea of the acceleration of the problem, the negative balance was R$103 million in August, jumping to R$180 million in September — an increase of almost 100% in just 60 days.
Interestingly, the largest share of this loss does not come from the pitch, but rather from amateur sports and the social club, responsible for R$182.7 million of the total deficit, according to information from the club. It is known that Corinthians owes R$23 million to striker Memphis Depay.
Cuts in football and the leaf
To achieve the financial turnaround and clean up the Corinthians accountswhich seems impossible today, the club intends to make deep cuts. The central objective is to reduce personnel expenses in the football department, including the professional squad, from R$435 million to R$354 million. This saving of R$81 million in image rights, charges and benefits is the backbone of the project. When other operational costs of games and services are added, the football reduction target would reach R$90 million. The club intends to do in 2026 what it hasn’t done in the last five years, for example.
This savings guideline is not restricted to CT Joaquim Grava. The club’s general payroll is expected to fall from R$505 million to R$410 million, maintaining the percentage reduction in all sectors. It is a necessary movement for Corinthians to recover its investment capacity and prevent its billion-dollar debt from becoming unpayable in the short term.
Collection and sale of athletes
On the revenue side, the management’s optimism to adjust accounts lies in marketing and player negotiations. The budget foresees raising R$255 million in sponsorships, which would represent a 47% jump compared to what was raised in 2025. In addition, TV broadcasting rights are estimated at R$335 million.
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Another fundamental pillar is the ball market: the club has set a target of R$151 million in player sales for 2026. Excluding these sales, the expectation is for gross revenue of R$806 million, a value 13% higher than the R$711 million estimated for the end of the current season. The success of this plan now depends on the discipline in keeping expenses under control in the face of pressure for results on the field. For now, few believe it will work. The club still suffers a transfer ban from FIFA and cannot reinforce itself sportingly. Two players are already packed to leave: Talles Magno and Romero.
AI with information and editing from The Football
