Josué details negotiations with Coritiba for a contract renewal and explains the obstacles to his staying.

In an interview with zerozero, from Portugal , Josué confirmed that talks for a contract renewal are underway. Coritiba’s main advantage is the player’s well-being: he and his family adapted quickly to Curitiba and are happy at the club.

However, the midfielder was cautious. After a high-level individual season, there are financial details and contractual clauses that still need adjustments. Josué avoided giving guarantees so as not to create false expectations among the fans, but reinforced that the priority is to reach an agreement that is beneficial to both parties.

“So, I’m negotiating with Coritiba. My desire is to continue if things go in that direction. My family and I are happy. That’s the most important thing for me. Now, there are things in the contract that need to be negotiated,” said Josué.

— After the year I’ve had, both collectively and individually, we’re looking at the best option, one that works out well for the club and for me. As much as I’d like to give you a guarantee, I can’t, because that certainty could turn into uncertainty, and I might end up lying. So, honestly, I can’t give you a guarantee, but obviously I want to continue — he concluded.

More than discussing contracts, Josué demonstrated that he is in tune with Coxa’s planning. For him, the club is experiencing a moment of solid reconstruction, “from the bottom up,” under the command of a management that he considers serious.

“I think Coritiba’s first objective has to be to avoid relegation, which is around 45 points. Beyond that, the gap between securing their place in the league and qualifying for the Copa Sudamericana is short. In the first phase, the club needs to stabilize in Serie A. It can’t get caught up in the ‘ups and downs’ that have happened in the past,” he emphasized.

“The people in charge of Coritiba are serious and are building the ‘house’ as it should be, from the bottom up and not just the roof. They are now ‘reaping the rewards’,” he concluded.

Another highlight of the midfielder’s speech was his support for Maicon, the “God of Defense,” who is also expected to remain in the squad. Josué revealed that the defender consulted him before signing with Coritiba and took the opportunity to defend his teammate against criticism regarding his age.

According to the Portuguese, the defender has more than enough footballing ability to silence the critics in Serie A and prove that experience is an asset, not a burden.

“Look, I’ll be honest, I really want him to go to Serie A. And I really want him to have the best Serie A season he’s ever had in his life. There are a lot of people who criticize him, mostly because of his age. If you ask Maicon about that, his answer will be: ‘I don’t have anything to prove to anyone, I know who I am,'” Josué explained.

“But it hurts me to see people questioning a player who has already won everything he has won. I want him to shut a lot of mouths up, and I know he will. I’ll be one of the first to applaud when that happens,” he concluded.

Josué’s weight in negotiations is no accident. In 2025, he was the team’s driving force with impressive numbers: 41 games played, seven goals scored, and seven assists provided.

As champions of Série B, Coritiba will compete in three competitions next season. The year begins with the Campeonato Paranaense (Paraná State Championship) on January 7th. Série A (first division) will also start in the same month. Coritiba will also participate in the Copa do Brasil (Brazilian Cup).