Hidden Gems FC: Why Corinthians star Yuri Alberto is attracting interest from the Premier League

Born in Sao Jose dos Campos, in the countryside of Sao Paulo, Yuri Alberto fell in love with football from an early age. His father, Carlos Alberto, was his greatest role model, and Yuri often watched him in action in amateur matches. The family patriarch was also his first coach, insisting that young right-footed Yuri train to finish with his left foot as well.

That ability to score with both feet, combined with remarkable body awareness, meant that Yuri had the potential to make his dream of becoming a professional footballer come true, and it’s fair to say that he found one of the best schools in the world to hone his talent at Santos.

He arrived at Vila Belmiro in 2013, the same year that Neymar left for Barcelona. He moved with his mother and sisters to the Baixada Santista, closer to the club’s facilities, while his father juggled jobs to help fund his son’s dream. At the Peixe’s youth academy - where he played alongside Real Madrid's Rodrygo - Yuri impressed with his goals and even caught the attention of Arsenal and Manchester United, but turning his talent into consistent performances at the professional level would prove far more challenging.

Promoted to the first team in 2017 while just 16 years old, the goals Yuri scored so easily in the academy didn’t emerge in the professional ranks, and with opportunities dwindling and the club going through instability amid managerial changes, he endured a yo-yo existence between youth and senior football. As his contract neared its end, it became clear a change was inevitable.

Frustrated by limited chances under coach Jesualdo Ferreira and during renewal negotiations, Yuri Alberto decided to move to Internacional in 2020. The departure didn’t sit well with Santos fans, who made him one of their primary targets for criticism.

Yet it’s undeniable that Yuri made the right choice. The 10 goals he scored in the pandemic-hit Brasileirao campaign took Internacional to within inches of their first league title since 1979. He followed that up in 2021 by finding the net 19 times across all competitions, and though that wasn’t enough to bring silverware to the Gauchos, it did convince Zenit St. Petersburg to spend €25 million on the young striker.

Yuri's stint in Russian football, his first and only experience in Europe so far, was brief: 15 matches, six goals, and three assists. The outbreak of the war between Russia and Ukraine accelerated his desire to return to Brazil, where he would also have greater visibility to help achieve his dream of playing for the national team. That led to a move to Corinthians in 2022 - first on loan, and later on a permanent deal.

Since joining Corinthians, Yuri has scored 70 goals and cemented his name in history as the club’s top scorer since the turn of the century. The 2025 Paulista title, secured by beating local rivals Palmeiras, only strengthened his bond with the fans, and he has now well establish as a Corinthians idol.

But things haven't always run smoothly for Yuri since his return to South America. His first two years at the Timao were marked by ups and downs as the striker faced heavy criticism while the club battled against relegation in both 2022 and 2023. By 2024, Yuri had “reached his limit” and even considered leaving the club.

“I was very convinced that I wanted to leave. I couldn’t take it anymore. We were going to make a lot of effort to try to leave. I was at my limit,” he admitted in an interview on the Benja Me Mucho YouTube channel. The turning point came with the arrival of coach Ramon Diaz, under whom Yuri scored 31 goals and finished as the top scorer in Brazilian football that season.

Now in 2025, under the command of ex-Brazil boss Dorival Junior, Yuri remains Corinthians’ main attacking reference. Primarily right-footed but equally competent with his left and in aerial duels, Yuri is most dangerous inside the box but also contributes to the build-up when needed. His bursts of speed in counter-attacks and his relentless work rate make him one of the most complete forwards in Brazilian football today.

Despite dreaming of a move to the Premier League - where there are clubs such as West Ham and Wolves regularly monitoring his situation - Yuri recently signed a contract extension that will keep him at Corinthians until 2030. His release clause for foreign clubs is set at €100 million, ensuring the Brazilian outfit are well-protected against the one outcome their fans dread: losing their star striker and idol.