‘You’ll Pay the Price’: José Martínez Blasts Dorival Júnior Following Corinthians Sacking
Corinthians has parted ways with manager Dorival Júnior, but the firing has triggered an immediate and explosive public feud. Former player José Martínez took to social media on Sunday, April 5, 2026, to launch a scathing attack on the now-former coach shortly after the club’s official announcement.
In a series of Instagram stories, the Venezuelan midfielder expressed deep resentment, directly blaming Dorival for his own exit from the club. “I left the team because of you, now you’ll pay the price,” Martínez posted, adding, “God is in control. Soon they will know the truth.”
The outburst follows a tumultuous period for Martínez, whose tenure at the club became unsustainable. The 31-year-traditional eventually rescinded his contract with the Timão after failing to report for pre-season training—arriving 35 days late—while struggling with a severe injury to his left knee. Now without a club, Martínez has undergone surgery to repair his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and is expected to remain sidelined until the final stretch of the season.
While Martínez points the finger at the coach, Corinthians leadership offered a different explanation for the managerial change. Marcelo Paz justified the decision to dismiss Dorival Júnior, stating that the manager’s work had “hit a ceiling.” The announcement came on the heels of a match against Internacional at the Neo Química Arena on April 5, 2026.
Despite the current animosity, Martínez’s time at Corinthians was marked by significant silverware. He played 70 matches and scored two goals for the club, capturing two trophies: the Paulistão under Ramón Díaz and the Copa do Brasil alongside Dorival Júnior. This sudden fallout casts a shadow over those shared successes as the club moves in a recent direction.
