Breaking! Felipe Melo says Richarlison to Vasco is “a heart decision” | OneFootball

Social media went wild — and this time it was a Fluminense idol who threw fuel on the fire. Felipe Melo stated bluntly that Richarlison is close to joining Vasco and treated the possible return as something bigger than football. A source connected to those involved in the deal indicates that the striker could arrive in Rio de Janeiro as early as next week. The club has not officially confirmed it, but things behind the scenes have definitely heated up.

I’m calling it: the Pombo is joining Vasco, says Felipe Melo.

Felipe Melo declares: “the decision to play for Vasco comes from the heart”

In a post on social media, Felipe Melo did not hold back when talking about the possible return:

What he said sums up what the fans feel: more than a reinforcement, it would be a reunion.

What has already been confirmed behind the scenes

The movement has gone beyond wishful thinking and turned into action. Canal do Pedrosa revealed that Vasco made the first contacts and inquired about the terms of the deal, trying to understand what would be needed to move forward. It is not a simple move — it involves a player with an international market — but Pedrinho’s board agreed to enter the race. Since 2024, the president, an openly declared Vasco supporter, has treated the signing as a dream.

Why it makes perfect sense

Here, the story goes beyond football. Richarlison is from Nova Venécia in Espírito Santo, considered one of the biggest concentrations of Vasco fans in the country, and he has never hidden where his heart lies. In an interview with Desimpedidos, the striker was direct: “My whole family supports Vasco.” He explained that he calls himself a Fluminense supporter because he came through at Fluminense, but that in Brazil, the team closest to his heart is Vasco — to the point of staying up late in England to follow the matches.

The situation at Tottenham opens the door

The timing also works in Vasco’s favor. Richarlison was left out of Tottenham’s Premier League squad list and has already signaled that he does not intend to stay at the English club. With the transfer windows in Europe’s five major leagues closed, the viable paths are limited to just a few destinations — and it is exactly through that opening that Vasco has moved in. His contract with Spurs runs until June 2027, which even allows for pre-contract talks starting in January.

Fans and the board are rowing in the same direction

The push is not only coming from inside the club. The fans turned the appeal into a social media campaign, with influencer Casimiro Miguel backing the message that “Vasco needs Richarlison and Richarlison needs Vasco.” On the institutional side, Pedrinho is betting on the emotional argument — the same one Felipe Melo put into words.

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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.