RIO DE JANEIRO, April 23 -- Atletico Mineiro's Ecuadorian midfielder Juan Cazares has expressed a desire to join his team's Brazilian Serie A rivals Corinthians.
Cazares is contracted to Atletico until December but the 28-year-old said he would be open to negotiations with the Sao Paulo giants.
"Yes, I'd like to play for Corinthians. They are a very strong team - the biggest in Brazil along with Flamengo," Cazares told Ecuador's Canal de Futbol. "How could I not be interested in going to a club like that?"
Corinthians president Andres Sanchez is a known admirer of the playmaker and revealed this week that the club attempted to sign him last year.
Cazares has made 104 Serie A appearances and scored 23 goals since arriving at Atletico Mineiro in 2016 from Argentinian side Banfield.
He has been capped 21 times for Ecuador's national team and was a member of their 2017 and 2016 Copa America campaigns.
Confessions from beyond the grave
King of the rings doesn't come easy
Accident raises concern over trucks
Syria claims gains in Aleppo
Attitude toward sex, pregnancy changing
Iran doctors struggle with quake injuries
Morsi says Cairo, Washington can be 'real friends'
Tokyo's stance 'unacceptable'
Armstrong back in the saddle after banning
Swimmers told to avoid jellyfish after tragedy
New rules for blood donors, but concerns linger
Shenzhen ponders bad-behavior law
S. Korea's Lee apologizes for graft scandal
Five in court over sale of teen's kidney
Spanish 'Robin Hood' an anti-austerity hero
One little decision altered nation's diving history
Panetta's Asia-Pacific trip aids strategic pivot
Lawyers calling for reform of laojiao system
Students encouraged to leave parents behind
12 people die when van crashes into back of parked truck in Sichuan
Mystery remains over 'mankind' quote
US mourns death of week-old panda
Do cyberwars really keep us from fighting?
France seeks to become more inviting to immigrants
Fukushima caused 'mutant butterflies'
'New law' focuses on work permits
Traffic may cost car owners
Romney picks Paul Ryan for running mate
Silver and bronze are golden too
Foreign firms 'will benefit from new industries'