Italian clubs ready bids of €3-4 million for Vasco regular | OneFootball

The good moment of Cauan Barros wearing Vasco da Gama's jersey is already sparking interest in European football. According to journalist Ekrem Konur, two clubs from Italy's Serie A are preparing offers between 3 and 4 million euros for the young midfielder from Vasco.

An undisputed starter in Fernando Diniz's scheme, Barros became a key player for the team in 2025 and is experiencing the most solid phase of his career precisely after overcoming one of the most challenging periods of his football journey.

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Photo: Reproduction/Vasco.

From almost giving up to consolidation at Vasco

Three years ago, Cauan Barros was close to quitting football. At 18, when he was preparing to play his first Copinha, the midfielder suffered a back injury, was told he might need surgery, and was emotionally shaken. The player even returned to his family's home in the Pankararu Indigenous Land, between Tacaratu and Petrolândia, in the hinterlands of Pernambuco, to clear his head.

Convinced by his parents to return to Rio de Janeiro to treat the injury, Barros ended up not needing surgery. With the departure of players like Andrey Santos, Marlon Gomes, and Eguinaldo from the under-20 team, he gained space in the youth ranks, had a consistent season, and in 2023, played in the Copinha, scoring goals and delivering good performances.

His debut in the professional team happened in 2023, under the command of Maurício Barbieri. Barros even scored a goal against São Paulo, at Morumbi, but lost his place with the coach's change and ended the season on the bench.

Maturity through loans and a high return

Seeking playing time and experience, the midfielder was loaned to Amazonas and América-MG throughout 2024 and the first half of 2025. According to the player's staff, it was during this period that he matured "the hard way."

The return to Vasco happened in August, already under Fernando Diniz's command. Since then, Barros has taken the starting position and received public praise from the coach, who highlighted the athlete's "bright future" after a great performance against Botafogo in the Copa do Brasil quarter-finals.

With Barros as a starter, Vasco achieved a streak of 11 unbeaten matches, recently interrupted by defeats in the Brasileirão.

Indigenous pride and roots in the hinterlands

Born and raised in the Pankararu village, Cauan Barros had a humble childhood in the Pernambuco hinterlands. The son of a street cleaner and a cafeteria worker, he grew up far from major centers and faced common difficulties for those dreaming of a football career from remote regions.

At the beginning of his time in the youth categories, Barros avoided talking about his origins for fear of prejudice. With psychological and institutional support from the club, he began to publicly embrace his indigenous roots, becoming a source of pride for the community.

When he signed his first professional contract with Vasco, the National Foundation of Indigenous Peoples (Funai) celebrated the achievement on social media, highlighting the symbolic impact of the accomplishment.

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Barros, Vasco's midfielder, in the tradition of the Pankararus village: the white clay indicates he is the godfather and needs to act as a protector — Photo: Personal Archive

Recruitment marked by chance

Curiously, Vasco discovered Cauan Barros almost by chance. In 2019, a club scout went to Indaiatuba to observe another player, who ended up getting injured. Barros, then at Primavera, entered just to complete the training and immediately stood out, with goals, assists, and a strong physical presence.

"You can say he is now a Vasco player," his father, Clécio, heard at the end of the evaluation — a phrase that would change the family's destiny.

Now, with prominence in the professional team and inquiries from Europe, Cauan Barros is experiencing the most promising moment of his career, while Vasco closely observes the next steps in the market.

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