Puma declares itself to Vasco and reaffirms its desire to renew its contract

Author of the penalty which sealed Vasco’s qualification for the Copa do Brasil final, the future of Puma Rodríguez is still uncertain. The full-back has a contract with Cruz-Maltino until the end of the year, both parties want a renewal, but have not yet reached an agreement. The player said he was determined to make a decision against Corinthians, but said he loved the club and wanted to stay.

“Now I only think about the final. We qualify and work for that. I leave that to my agents. I am very focused on the final. Then we will see what happens. I like Vasco a lot. I leave that to my agents, let them talk to the club. We are 100% focused on the final, which is the most important thing for us.”

Diniz wants renewal

Puma Rodríguez has a great ally in coach Fernando Diniz to stay at Vasco. The coach was full of praise for the right-back, who played a fundamental role on the left. For Diniz, contract renewal is a question of time.

“I think he is getting closer and closer to renewal. This is Puma’s wish, Vasco’s wish, my wish. I have already said it explicitly. He is a player who brings together very important characteristics for a great footballer. He has good speed, he is tall, a player who has excellent time with the ball, a strong offensive vocation. If you add up the two games, Puma was perhaps the player who came closest to scoring a goal. “From the first game I think he had five chances. He was up front, taking part in the crosses,” he said. Diniz, who finished.

“In these two games, defensively, he did very well. Even though the goal came from his side. He was in a double-marking situation, he had to leave and Robert Renan arrived a little late. But he did very well defensively. He is going through a very special moment. He is a guy who has charisma with the goal, even if he is on the wing, almost as if he were an attacker. He is a goalscoring full-back. When it comes to taking a shot penalty, it’s the same thing, he makes himself available to take the penalty, like against Botafogo and he has the composure to beat.”

Top scorer

In fact, Puma has a taste for goals. There are 8 made in different ways. The full-back has already scored from outside the area, from inside, and even with his head, always showing great opportunism and precision. On penalties, the Uruguayan is also assured. In addition to converting kicks against Botafogo and Fluminense in this Brazilian Cup, the player also scored against Athletico-PR and Fortaleza last year, and in the elimination against ABC, in 2023.

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