Corinthians was interested in signing Júnior Santos for the 2026 season, according to Globo.com. The deal would have been a loan, but the clubs did not progress in the talks.

According to Globo.com, while Corinthians have recently pursued Júnior Santos for a loan agreement, Atlético-MG plans for the deal to include an option or obligation to buy.

Corinthians has begun discussions with Atlético-MG to sign 31-year-old Brazilian winger Júnior Santos on a one-year loan. The proposal is to cover his wages at no initial fee and include a pre-set purchase option. This information was first reported by journalist Jorge Nicola and later confirmed by ge. Atlético-MG, which has a contract with Santos until the end of 2028, is considering the loan. It is reported that the player is pleased with the possibility of a move to Corinthians as he seeks more opportunities. He has faced strong competition and had an injury-affected season in which he played 29 matches. His last appearance was in September after surgery. In mid-2025, Atlético-MG had previously rejected a loan offer for the forward from his former club, Botafogo. Santos joined Atlético-MG in January 2025 after being the top scorer in the 2024 Libertadores. His current market value is estimated by Transfermarkt to be €3.50m.