Another Departure Has Been Formalized at Corinthians!

Corinthians, one of the giants of Brazilian football, has added another link to the comprehensive roster restructuring operation it initiated under the leadership of its new president, Augusto Melo. The club officially announced that the contract with 26-year-old goalkeeper Ivan Quaresma, who has been playing on loan at different clubs for some time, has been mutually terminated. This departure ends the interesting story of a player leaving the club without ever playing an official match with Corinthians' first team, while also highlighting the club's determined stance in the new era. In the official statement made by the club on Tuesday, it was confirmed that all ties with Ivan had been completely severed. However, this is not an ordinary termination. According to the agreement details, while Corinthians owned 50% of the player's economic rights, they retained the right to a 20% share from any future sale with this termination process. This strategic move allows the club to erase an item from the current salary budget while leaving the door ajar for financial gain from the player's future potential. Ivan Quaresma's next destination is expected to be Internacional, where he last played on loan. According to reports in the Brazilian press, the loan agreement with Internacional was also terminated early, and it is a matter of time before the goalkeeper signs a permanent contract with the Porto Alegre team. This transfer will open a new chapter in Ivan's career, where he seeks stability. ## A Career Without Playing a Match in a Corinthians Jersey Ivan Quaresma's adventure with Corinthians will be remembered as one of the complex transfer stories frequently encountered in Brazilian football. The young goalkeeper, transferred with great hopes from Ponte Preta at the beginning of 2022, was considered one of the club's most promising gloves at the time. However, fate never allowed him to wear his team's jersey in an official match at Corinthians' legendary stadium, Neo Química Arena. Shortly after his transfer, he became part of the massive swap deal Corinthians made with Russian club Zenit to acquire forward Yuri Alberto. As part of this deal, along with young talent Mantuan, Ivan was also loaned to Zenit. Since the adventure in Russia did not create the expected impact, he returned to his country for the 2023 season and was loaned to Vasco da Gama this time. Struggling to deliver a consistent performance at Vasco as well, Ivan ultimately headed to Internacional. This constant cycle of loans was an obvious indication that the player was not part of Corinthians' long-term plans. The presence of legendary captain Cássio as an irreplaceable fixture in the club's goal, with promising names like Carlos Miguel and Matheus Donelli as his backups, made it almost impossible for Ivan to find playing time. As a result, this departure was a logical step both for the club to part ways with a player who occupied a spot in the squad without being utilized and for Ivan to give his career a new direction. ## The Grand Cleanup Operation Led by Augusto Melo The departure of Ivan Quaresma is not a singular event but part of a radical change happening at Corinthians. With the inauguration of Augusto Melo as the new president, the policy of parting ways with players who have high salaries and an advancing age average was adopted. The aim is to build a more dynamic, younger, and financially sustainable squad structure. This wave of restructuring, referred to as "reformulação," also hit the club's symbolic figures. Veteran defender Gil, the backbone of the defense for years, midfield maestro Giuliano, and the fans' favorite, creative playmaker Renato Augusto, were not offered new contracts. Similarly, Colombian midfielder Victor Cantillo became another key name who left the team. These bold decisions show the management's focus on the future, rather than clinging to the past. While Corinthians, under the coaching of Mano Menezes, strives to build a new game philosophy and identity, it is not hesitant to bid farewell to players who do not fit this philosophy or are seen as inefficient in terms of cost-performance balance. Ivan's departure was recorded as a natural result of this grand cleanup. ## Looking Ahead: What's Next for Corinthians? Corinthians will continue with the triangle of experience (Cássio), potential (Carlos Miguel), and youth (Matheus Donelli) in goal. Ivan Quaresma's departure was more of a move to clarify squad planning than creating a vacancy in this position. It is expected that the club will use the space opened in the salary budget and the flexibility provided by terminations for new reinforcements in other areas of the squad, especially in the attack line and midfield. In conclusion, Ivan Quaresma's story with Corinthians, which ended without ever beginning, summarizes the spirit of the new era at the club. There is now less room for sentimentality and more room for rational and strategic planning. Although fans are saddened by the departure of legends, they look hopefully at the club's new vision, which aims to combine financial discipline and sporting success. The steps Corinthians will take in the remainder of the transfer window will show how successful this major restructuring will be.