Vasco will open 2026 with a team base, but is already making changes; see departures, returns and plans

The athlete had a contract until mid-2026, but the club and the player reached an early termination agreement. Hired in the second half of last year, Jean never managed to get going and ended up being left out of the cast. He entered the field for the last time in April and leaves the club with 15 matches played (4 starts) and without scoring a goal or providing an assist. It cost 8.5 million reais with Toluca-MEX, resources that Vasco will not be able to recover.

On the other hand, the club has moved forward in the renewal of Puma Rodríguez’s contract. The versatile Uruguayan full-back will sign for two more years, according to ge. Puma, who replaced Lucas Piton playing improvised on the left in the last part of the season, is one of the pieces of this squad base.

It also includes Piton himself and full-back Paulo Henrique, midfield duo Barros and Thiago Mendes, defenders Cuesta and Robert Renan, midfielder Philippe Coutinho and attacking trio Andrés Gómez, Nuno Moreira and Rayan. Ten players who have been pillars of coach Fernando Diniz’s team during this second half, but who, at the same time, have accumulated a good sequence of matches, carried by the difference in level for the reserve bench. Based on these names, Vasco tries to organize options for each sector.

What could change this balance is the timing of the sale of Rayan, who saw his contract renewed and a fine increased to 80 million euros. A proposal for half that amount, or even a little more, should shake the club. At the press conference following the decision on Sunday, Diniz made it clear that his desire was to have the young talent in place by the end of 2026. But it’s a difficult balance.

— Rayan, obviously, is a central element (of planning). This is one of the great pillars of my work here. Few people have a Rayan. He is a player who has decided many matches and the trend is growing. He discovers himself. If Rayan were my son, I would tell him to stay a little longer in Vasco. If he leaves at the end of next year, he will leave at 20, young anyway, the coach said.

The club needs to save money and can listen to offers from other athletes to keep the jewel. Mainly by Paulo Henrique, promoted after his call-up to the Brazilian team. This season, for example, it was necessary to sell young defender Luiz Gustavo to ensure his financial health.

Maintaining this base will also require resources. In the agreement with Galatasaray for Cuesta it was agreed that Cruz-Maltino will have to pay just over 9 million reais to extend the loan until the end of next year. Keeping the defender permanently would cost around 36 million reais.

Another lender, Andrés Gómez, has a purchase obligation, for the middle of next year, stipulated by Rennes-FRA at 4 million euros (R$26.3 million reais). Robert Renan, also on loan until the middle of the year (extendable until the end), will cost double: the purchase option with Zenit-RUS is 8 million euros (R$52.6 million).

Part of the solution for the coffers may lie in loaned players. Among the athletes with the most professional experience having served other teams in 2025, midfielders Juan Sforza, Maxime Dominguez and JP return.

Of the three, the one most likely to be exploited is JP, after a good spell at Avaí in Serie B. The 20-year-old has scored five goals and provided one assist in 38 matches for the Santa Catarina club.

Sforza (loaned to Juventude) and Maxime (Toronto FC-CAN) tend to be exchanged. The former cost around 24 million reais in Vasco’s coffers and has good market potential, being 23 years old and having played for Argentina’s youth teams.

Other departures expected to be confirmed at the end of the year are those of defender Mauricio Lemos and midfielder Paulinho Paula, on loan and at the end of contract respectively. Both lost places in the team.