Jesse Lingard made history as the first Englishman to play in Brazil’s top tier when he made his debut for Corinthians.
Jesse Lingard didn’t have the best start in Brazil (Image: Ruano Carneiro/Getty Images)
Former Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard has had a rocky start to his new chapter at Corinthians. This was the case, at least in terms of results, as his team suffered a heavy defeat against Fluminense.
The 33-year-old has been patiently waiting to make his Brazil international debut in Sao Paulo after starting training against Corinthians in early March. That moment finally came on Wednesday night, when he came off the bench in the 3-1 loss to Rio de Janeiro.
Considering Corinthians are languishing in the middle of the table, they probably didn’t expect to pull off an upset at the Maracanã. Fluminense are level on points with Palmeiras at the top of Brasileiro Serie A following their recent win.
Dorival Junior’s side were already two goals down at half-time when Lingard was brought on for Breno Bidon. Hopes for a comeback were effectively dashed when teammate Alan was sacked for an indiscretion to the groin area.
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read more: Former Manchester United star Jesse Lingard chooses next club after Premier League talksread more: Manchester United have already made their first summer transfer, with four more set to move.
Meanwhile, Lingard put up impressive numbers in his first outing on Brazilian soil. The Englishman almost scored his debut goal until Fluminense goalkeeper Fabio made a smart save to deny him the goal.
Overall, Lingard impressed in the game, but found himself in a difficult situation after Corinthians were reduced to 10 men, and his ability to influence the course of the match was necessarily limited.
The hope now is that the experienced star can secure a starting place against Internacional on Sunday. Not only will the opponents be less intimidating, but we will also see Lingard in action in front of his home crowd for the first time in Sao Paulo.
Lingard spent almost two years with FC Seoul in South Korea before heading to Brazil. By coming off the bench on Wednesday, he became the first Englishman to feature in Brazilian football’s top flight.
The Brit made history with his debut (Image: Ruano Carneiro/Getty Images)
Although he has already made his debut, Lingard will have to bide his time before linking up with former United teammate Memphis Depay. The Dutchman has been with the Sao Paulo club since 2024, but has been absent due to international duties with the Netherlands.
Another well-known face in the dressing room will be former Arsenal defender Gabriel Paulista. The former adversary has since become an ally, and returned to Brazil himself earlier this year.
Despite his advanced age, there were plenty of encouraging signs on Wednesday to suggest Lingard still has plenty of fitness left in him. The playmaker has penned a nine-month contract until the end of 2026, with an option to extend if he reaches a certain number of appearances this season.
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