Papo na Colina
·16 December 2025
"I love Vasco": Qualification hero breaks silence, pushes for new contract

In partnership with
Yahoo sportsPapo na Colina
·16 December 2025

Vasco da Gama is experiencing the euphoria of being in yet another national final, and one of the protagonists of this journey has his future being discussed in the corridors of São Januário. The full-back Puma Rodríguez, who took the decisive penalty that eliminated Fluminense, has a contract only until the end of the year, but the atmosphere is one of total optimism for renewal.
After securing the spot at Maracanã, the Uruguayan did not hide his feelings for the club. Although he left the bureaucratic negotiations to his agents, Puma was emphatic about his desire:
“Right now, I only think about the final. We qualified and worked for this. I leave that to my agents. I am very focused on the final. Then we'll see what happens. I love Vasco very much. I leave that to my agents, so they can talk to the club. The focus is 100% on the final, which is the most important for us.”
The statement is music to the fans' ears, who saw the player reinvent himself by playing improvised on the left flank and being decisive in moments of maximum pressure.
If it depends on Fernando Diniz, the signing is just a matter of time. The coach has positioned himself as the athlete's biggest ally in this negotiation.
“I think he is getting closer to renewing. It's Puma's wish, Vasco's wish, and my wish,” the coach stated.
Diniz did not hold back praise for the number 2's characteristics, highlighting his offensive strength and composure.
“He is someone who has a charisma with the goal, even though he is a full-back, almost as if he were a forward. He is a goal-scoring full-back.”
With the support of the coach and the blessing of the stands after the qualification, Puma is on the path to extending his contract and continuing his story on the Hill.

Puma scored the qualifying goal – Photo: Matheus Lima/Vasco
+ Follow Papo na Colina's social media: Thread, Bluesky, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok and Google News.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.









































