Vasco keep Matheus França until July, no early return | OneFootball

Vasco has set the plan for one of the most questioned names in the current squad. Despite the low performance and the fans' criticism, the club does not intend to terminate the loan of midfielder Matheus França early. The player, who belongs to Crystal Palace-ENG, has a contract until July 2026 and is expected to fulfill the contract until the end, according to information from ge.

The decision involves the football department and the technical committee, who are still waiting for a technical response from the athlete on the field. Signed with the status of a starter and one of the highest salaries in the group, the number 9 is experiencing an uncomfortable drought: in 21 matches played for Cruz-Maltino, he has not scored any goals and has not provided any assists.

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Fourth option: The loss of space with Diniz

Matheus França's situation became complicated with the squad setup for 2026. If he was once a constant piece, today the midfielder has become the fourth option for the playmaker role in Fernando Diniz's hierarchy.

The absolute starter in the position is Philippe Coutinho. Right behind, Nuno Moreira has gained prestige (despite the recent friction in the game against Mirassol). The newcomer that pushed França to the end of the line was the arrival and quick adaptation of Johan Rojas. The Colombian has been receiving more minutes and opportunities, highlighting the poor moment of the number 9, who has only accumulated 72 minutes on the field in the two games this season.

Matheus França is heavily criticized by the fans – Photo: Matheus Lima/Vasco

Vasco believes in a comeback

Even with the adverse scenario, the management is not giving up. The internal assessment is that Matheus França is a technical asset that can deliver much more than he has shown so far. The stay until July is seen as the "last window" of opportunity for the player to justify the investment and try to regain prominence, whether to renew the contract or to continue his career in Europe with increased value.

The player did not perform as expected at Colina – Photo: André Durão

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