Vasco ready to bid up to €4m to lure defender Zé Pedro from Cagliari | OneFootball

Vasco da Gama has identified its target to strengthen the defense and is willing to open the coffers. According to information from Turkish journalist Ekrem Konur, an expert in the international market, the Rio de Janeiro club is preparing an offer between 3 and 4 million euros (about R$ 18 to R$ 24 million) to sign the Portuguese defender Zé Pedro, currently at Cagliari, Italy.

The Vasco movement is in response to the interest of Atlético-MG, which is also monitoring the player. However, the Cruz-Maltina board intends to act quickly and with higher values to secure the arrival of the defender, seen as a market opportunity, since he may leave the Italian club just a few months after his arrival.

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Backstage Dispute

Vasco's entry into the deal could change the course of negotiations. While Atlético-MG has only shown interest, the indication of an official proposal in the range of 4 million euros puts the Cruz-Maltino at an advantage. The board understands that Zé Pedro would bring the necessary European experience to provide solidity to the defensive system, which suffered from mistakes in the Brasileirão debut.

Who is Zé Pedro?

José Pedro da Silva Figueiredo Freitas, known as Zé Pedro, is a 28-year-old right-footed defender, standing 1.87m tall. He was developed in the youth ranks of Vitória de Guimarães and built his entire career in Portugal, playing for clubs like Vizela, Braga B, and Estrela da Amadora, until he joined Porto in 2021.

At the Portuguese giant, Zé Pedro initially stood out in the B team, where he was captain, but gained space in the main team in recent seasons, even playing in the Champions League. He was signed by Cagliari in the European summer transfer window of 2025.

In the current Italian Serie A season, the defender has alternated between starting and being on the bench, totaling about 10 matches. His main characteristics are physical strength, good aerial positioning, and the ability to also play as a right-back in a three-defender line — a profile that greatly appeals to coach Fernando Diniz.

Watch Zé Pedro's highlights:

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