Cuiabano rejects Cruzeiro, stays loyal to Vasco, deal close | OneFootball

Vasco is just details away from announcing one of its main signings for the 2026 season. Left-back Cuiabano, from Nottingham Forest (ENG), is expected to arrive at São Januário in the coming days after a behind-the-scenes turnaround that proved the strength of the cruzmaltino project. The player turned down a formal offer from Cruzeiro to keep his word to Vasco’s management, and the agreement between the clubs is practically sealed after a new round of negotiations.

+ Vasco is close to announcing Cuiabano; total value could reach 11 million euros

Cuiabano turns down Cruzeiro despite Libertadores participation

Cuiabano’s arrival in Rio de Janeiro takes on the air of an institutional victory. Cruzeiro, currently a financial powerhouse and qualified for the Copa Libertadores da América, entered the race for the player with strength. The Raposa submitted an official proposal to Nottingham Forest and to the player’s staff, offering the showcase of the continent’s main competition.

However, Cuiabano chose to honor the verbal commitment he had already made with Vasco. The decision surprised the market, since, in theory, the Minas Gerais club offered a more robust international calendar at the moment. The left-back prioritized the sports project presented by the Gigante da Colina and the opportunity to be a protagonist in Fernando Diniz’s team.

Player turned down Cruzeiro – Photo: Reproduction

Cruzeiro missed out on selling Kaiki due to lack of replacement

The impact of Cuiabano’s choice was immediately felt in Belo Horizonte. Cruzeiro had an offer in hand to sell the young left-back Kaiki, but the negotiation was stalled. The celeste management, aware that they would not be able to sign Cuiabano as a replacement, decided to hold on to their homegrown promise to avoid being left unprotected in the position. In other words, Vasco’s and the player’s firmness disrupted the planning of a direct Série A rival.

Negotiation with Vasco is practically closed

At this moment, optimism is running high at São Januário. Both Nottingham Forest and Cuiabano have already given the “yes” to the deal. What remains now are exchanges of contract drafts and bureaucratic details so that the player can travel to Brazil, undergo medical exams, and sign the contract. Vasco’s management acted with patience and financial aggressiveness at the right moment to unlock the deal.

Player was at Botafogo in recent years – Photo: Publicity

Understand the evolution of the offers for Cuiabano

To convince the English, Vasco had to raise the offer three times. The progression of negotiations shows the effort of the SAF to secure the player:

Choice strengthens Vasco’s image in the market

More than a technical reinforcement for a position in need (Lucas Piton and Victor Luis now have serious competition), Cuiabano’s signing carries symbolism. Vasco beat out competition from a stable club in the Libertadores, showing that its shirt and negotiating power remain strong. The player’s stance in keeping his word was also highly valued internally, indicating that he arrives committed to the club’s restructuring in 2026.

Vasco reached an agreement with Nottingham Forest for Cuiabano – Photo: Nottingham Forest Publicity

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