"Forgotten" player wins over Diniz, set for more chances at Vasco | OneFootball

Hired as Vasco's first acquisition in the mid-year transfer window, Thiago Mendes arrived with the expectation of being one of the pillars of Fernando Diniz's team. The midfielder was considered a market opportunity, approved by Diniz, Pedrinho, and Admar Lopes, and signed at no cost. However, it took him a while to get going. He spent months at the "end of the line" until last Friday, against Internacional, when the player finally got his big chance — and delivered.

Officially presented on July 17, Thiago Mendes had played nine games for the club before the match against Inter, his first start as a starter after three months. And it was precisely in the 5-1 thrashing at São Januário that the midfielder delivered his best performance, internally regarded as his true "debut" in the Vasco shirt.

Diniz already knew the talent — but found a different Thiago

Fernando Diniz's admiration for Thiago Mendes goes back a long way. The coach remembers the midfielder at São Paulo, when the player's talent caught the attention of Lille and Lyon in France. However, the coach points out that he found a different athlete from the one who shone in Brazil.

The coach's diagnosis was confirmed upon the midfielder's arrival at Vasco. The staff identified that Thiago Mendes was far below the rest of the squad in physical terms. Three seasons in Qatari football, with lower intensity, clearly showed a gap in strength, speed, and endurance numbers.

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Thiago Mendes, from Vasco, before the match against Internacional — Photo: Matheus Lima/Vasco

Physical evolution, internal discussions, and a turning point

Despite his good attitude in training, there was a perception within the club that the midfielder could deliver more. Meetings between the player, Diniz, Pedrinho, and Felipe reinforced the need for physical development. The response came in the following weeks: reduced fat and weight, increased strength and speed — everything approached the ideal for his position.

The coaching staff also managed the athlete with caution: they tried to give him minutes without risking injury, monitored his recovery, and observed a progressive adaptation to the rhythm of Brazilian football. The performance against Internacional was the peak of this cycle.

The midfielder stood out for his presence in midfield and technical quality — as in the outside-foot pass that found Andrés Gómez and led to Vasco's third goal.

A piece that combines strength and technique, the missing fit for Vasco

The management was looking for a number 5 who combined physical presence and good ball distribution, something that Tchê Tchê, Jair, and Hugo Moura had been offering partially. Thiago Mendes, theoretically, filled this gap — but took time to reach the required level.

Now, his performance reignites expectations:

Sequence, confidence, and competition for a spot

With the Copa do Brasil semifinal against Fluminense approaching, Vasco aims to consolidate a more stable and competitive midfield. Thiago Mendes is expected to get another opportunity as a starter against Mirassol, in search of rhythm, continuity, and greater physical consistency.

The coaching staff, management, and even part of the fans see that the good performance against Inter may have been the starting point to finally see on the field the player the club envisioned when they signed him.

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