Vasco watch Marino Hinestroza respond after big-money investment | OneFootball

Vasco paid R$ 30 million for Marino Hinestroza expecting a forward capable of delivering on the pitch. So far, however, the numbers do not add up. The Colombian arrived at the club surrounded by expectations, has played 30 matches, and has yet to score.

The assist in the rout over Coritiba and his good performances before the FIFA international break, however, opened a new perspective for a player who had spent months far below the expected level. The change in attitude is noticeable.

Marino Hinestroza has become more involved in attacking plays, gained confidence, and found more space under Pedro Emanuel. The problem is that, given the size of the investment, improvement without goals is still only part of the answer Vasco needs.

The multimillion-dollar investment increased the pressure

Marino Hinestroza was signed at the start of the year from Atlético Nacional for R$ 30 million. The fee placed the forward among the club’s major deals and naturally raised expectations over his output. The start, however, was below expectations.

Under Renato Gaúcho, the Colombian lost space and was even left on the bench or out of the squad. The situation caused dissatisfaction for the player and his staff, especially after the coach’s comments about the difficulties Colombian players have adapting to Brazilian football.

The episode took on another dimension when Marino Hinestroza liked posts suggesting his departure from Vasco and began to face pressure from the fans. The high investment increased the scrutiny over his performances.

Pedro Emanuel ushers in a new phase

The arrival of coach Pedro Emanuel changed that scenario. With more opportunities, Marino Hinestroza began to show signs of improvement and became more effectively involved in the team’s attacking play.

In the rout over Coritiba, he provided the assist for Ramon Rique and delivered one of his most productive performances since arriving. Before the FIFA international break, he had also been showing more consistent form.

Even so, being more involved does not mean producing decisive numbers. Marino Hinestroza has now played 30 matches for Vasco without scoring. For a forward signed for R$ 30 million, that record keeps the pressure front and center.

The equation still depends on the first goal

The recent improvement changes the atmosphere, but it does not erase the track record. Marino Hinestroza needs to turn involvement into goals. With a contract until December 2029, he will have time to improve, but each match increases the pressure to justify the R$ 30 million invested.

The assist against Coritiba was a response, but it does not end the debate. After 30 matches without scoring, the first goal will carry special weight and could turn improvement into a return on Vasco’s investment.

The FIFA international break came just as Marino Hinestroza was starting to gain confidence. When play resumes, the challenge will be to turn that reaction into consistency — and make the R$ 30 million show up in the forward’s numbers as well.

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