English Flair Meets Brazilian Fire: Lingard Joins Corinthians in a Historic Canfest
6 March 2026
The Brazilian club Corinthians is poised to revive one of its oldest traditions dating back to the 1960s by officially announcing the signing of an English player.
According to the club tradition the alarm siren will sound at Parque Sao Jorge, the club social club in eastern Sao Paulo, signaling a major signing.
This siren has previously sounded for players like Socrates, Rivaldo, Carlos Tevez, Ronaldo Nazario and more recently Dutch star Memphis Depay.
The Siren Returns
Brazilian reports indicate Jesse Lingard, 33, has received several offers from different clubs, but a brief call with former Manchester United teammate Memphis Depay was enough to seal his decision.
The player even booked a trip to Brazil before a final verbal agreement was reached.
BBC Sport reports the English winger will embark on an unprecedented chapter, becoming the first English player to play in the Brazilian Serie A, joining one of the country s most popular and influential clubs.
The Bando de Loucos and Lingard
Corinthians fans are famously known as the Bando de Loucos, a nickname reflecting their deep bond with the club.
Journalist Jose Roberto de Aquino once said that every team has fans, but Corinthians fans have a team. The fans reach is proven by examples such as 40,000 supporters traveling to Japan to back the team in 2012 and a fundraising drive that raised around 6 million pounds to help pay for the stadium.
Lingard is expected to wear the number 77, a nod to 1977, a year that marked a turning point when the club ended a 23-year title drought before winning the Sao Paulo state championship that year.
Reaction in Brazil has been mixed: some believe other Brazilian players could deliver similar levels for less, Ilsinho questions the impact, and Mauro Cesar Pereira called the signing strange given Lingard s time away from top competition.
Still Lingard is expected to receive strong backing from Corinthians fans, known for their loyalty, though fan protests in the past have led to the departure of stars like Roberto Carlos, Carlos Tevez, Javier Mascherano, and even Ronaldo s retirement.
Punchline 1: If Lingard scores, expect the siren’s volume to be so loud that even the pigeons will file in as supporters.
Punchline 2: In Brazil, football is a religion and Lingard’s arrival might just turn the altar into a stadium of confetti and noise.
