Candidate Augusto Melo says he received threats at Corinthians – 07/14/2023 – Sport

Augusto Melo, 57, made a promise to his daughter: it will be the last time. The last attempt to be president of Corinthians. Second in the 2020 election, he lost to the current president, Duilio Monteiro Alves, by 145 votes out of a universe of 2,873 members.

In the election scheduled for the end of this year, he is for now the only name of the opposition to defeat the Renovation and Transparency group, which has been in power since 2007.

“My family questioned [a opção de se candidatar]. Not long ago, my daughter asked me why we need this. I asked her to give it to me just this year to try. It’s a matter of honor,” says the candidate.

Melo says he has received death threats. He walks safely and uses a different car every week, he says. He registered a police report and reported calls and messages to him and his family at different times, even at dawn.

He confesses that this is a strange feeling for someone who spent years attending the club’s headquarters just because of the games played in Canindé, the area of ​​Parque São Jorge where internal matches take place.

“I’ve never had anything against anyone. I’m having enemies now, unfortunately, because of politics. It’s horrible. Sometimes you meet a person you consider a friend and, because you’re on the other side of the club’s politics, you start to see them as enemy. It’s disappointing. But we have a plan. I’m sure that mine is the only candidacy that can get us out of this situation and I will. It will be worth all the risk”, he assures.

“This situation” means Corinthian debt, which is close to R$ 1 billion. On the field, the team skates and has not won a title since the 2019 Paulista Championship. Until the victory over Atlético Mineiro, last Saturday (8), it was approaching the relegation zone of the Brazilian. Defender Gil was charged by fans at a hotel, and attacking midfielder Luan was attacked by members of an organization when he was in a motel.

Melo also bets on the dissatisfaction of the associate with the scarce infrastructure investments made by Duilio, he believes. The current candidate will be André Luiz de Oliveira, known as André Negão, one of the founders of Renovação e Transparência.

There is also natural wear and tear for the same political group that has been in power for more than a decade and a half. For opposition leaders, there is no more propitious time to win at the polls. Although Andrés Sanchez, twice president and biggest name of Renovação, is respected for his machine and his ability to attract votes.

Melo’s response was to keep campaigning since the defeat at the polls in 2020 and place himself as a political alternative. According to him, this meant that he began to receive repeated provocations when he went to the social headquarters. Everything so that he reacts physically, commits aggression, is denounced and expelled from Corinthians.

Businessman in the textile sector, former futsal and field player, Melo drew attention three years ago with a proposal to put the alvinegro in the “Guinness Book”, the book of records, with the largest ferris wheel in the world, which would be installed in Parque São Jorge. The proposal was mocked by opponents, but he says: he already had sponsors who would finance the endeavor and would yield resources to the club, in addition to visibility.

About debts, increased collection and search for brands that invest in the club, he repeats that Corinthians is so big that “it walks alone”.

“We had in 2012 [ano do título mundial] the greatest chance for the club to expand worldwide and become one of the biggest in the world, which they [da Renovação e Transparência] projected. The brand is very strong and has conditions for it. Won everything. But since then, they’ve done the opposite. Corinthians is no longer a protagonist and is increasingly staining our history”, he complains.

Melo was part of Renewal and Transparency administrations. He was director of the base categories in the presidency of Roberto de Andrade (2015-2018). When the representative was threatened with impeachment, in 2017, he campaigned for the rejection of the request in the Deliberative Council. He mentions that, under his command, the department started to have players like Pedrinho, Maycon, Pedro Henrique and Du Queiroz, among others.

In addition to the threats he claims to receive, he lives with two accusations. That he would be a player manager and convicted of tax crime. He could not, therefore, plead for president of Corinthians.

The opposition candidate denies being an agent. He says he worked at União Barbarense to administer football for a short period and that he was never responsible for the career of any athlete. He is also, he claims, suing whoever accused him. He recognizes the conviction, declares that it was an inheritance from a company he bought in the past, but decided to pay basic food baskets and carry out social work determined by the Justice.

Melo assesses that the sentence does not prevent him from being a representative and that there is nothing in the Corinthians statute that prohibits the candidacy.

“I know it’s going to come out. I’m prepared because they’re going to play dirty.”

Wearing a brooch with the club’s crest on the lapel of his suit and a tattoo of Our Lady of Aparecida on his right hand, Augusto Melo swears he’s ready. Even to, in case of relegation, assume the presidency with Corinthians in Series B of the Brazilian Championship.

“I don’t believe it’s going to happen. But we’re prepared for anything, understand?”