Half of Europe watching: Vasco starlet could become club’s record sale | OneFootball

Vasco da Gama is experiencing one of its best seasons in recent years under the leadership of Fernando Diniz, and among so many standout names, one in particular shines brightly: Rayan. A homegrown talent from Colina, the 19-year-old forward is going through a spectacular phase and is already attracting interest from European football clubs.

The recognition has now crossed borders. The traditional Spanish newspaper “As” published an article praising the talent of the young Vasco player, highlighting his journey and emphasizing his technical qualities.

Cruz-maltina Roots

Son of Valkmar, a former Vasco center-back in the 1990s and early 2000s, Rayan was born and raised in Barreira do Vasco, starting his journey at the club back in 2011 at just five years old. Since then, he has gone through all the youth categories until reaching the professional team in 2023.

Standing at 1.85m tall, the left-footed forward plays both as a winger and as a center-forward — the position in which he has established himself this season, being one of Diniz’s main offensive weapons. In 2025, he already has 16 goals, with 11 in the Brasileirão, numbers that place him among the most productive young players in the country.

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European Interest

According to As, “Rayan, the Brazilian jewel attracting half of Europe”, is now one of the stars of the Brazilian Championship. The newspaper highlighted the player’s history, recalling that he was already drawing attention at 11 years old, when he scored 115 goals in a single season for Vasco’s youth teams.

The outlet also points out that the forward is already being monitored by several European clubs, and his name is expected to be prominent in the next transfer window, which opens in the continent’s winter.

Renewal on the Horizon

Aware of the international interest, Vasco is working to renew Rayan’s contract, with a salary adjustment and increase of the release clause, currently valued at around 40 million euros. The board’s idea is to value the player and ensure a more advantageous negotiation in the future, should an official offer arrive at São Januário.

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Photo: Fernando Moreno/AGIF

With his brilliance on the field and growing prestige off it, Rayan seems ready to follow in the footsteps of the great idols formed at Colina. And if it’s up to the Vasco fans, the boy who was born in Barreira still has many chapters to write wearing the cruz-maltina shirt.

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