Brazilian football champions Corinthians have beaten off interest from local rivals Sao Paulo to sign Paraguay defender Fabian Balbuena, according to local media reports
Balbuena will undergo a medical with the Brazilian outfit on Monday after his club Libertad reportedly agreed to a $1.5 million transfer, reports Xinhua.
"If there are no issues with the physical tests, he will sign a three-year contract," Brazilian portal Gazeta Esportiva said on Saturday, citing sources close to Corinthians.
Balbuena has been identified as a replacement for central defender Gil, who left the Sao Paulo club to join China's Shandong Luneng on January 18.
The 24-year-old made his international debut in Paraguay's 1-0 friendly loss to Mexico in Kansas City last March.
Corinthians have lost five players since clinching the Brazilian Serie title for a sixth time in December. Those to have left are Ralf, Jadson, Renato Augusto and Gil -- all to Chinese Super League clubs -- and Alexandre Pato to Chelsea.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app