Vasco 2023 hero out of favour, set to leave as contract ends | OneFootball

The second stint of midfielder Paulinho at Vasco is reaching its final moments. With a contract valid only until December and completely out of favor with coach Fernando Diniz, the player is expected to leave the club at the end of the season. The information, released by the portal RTI Esporte, marks the end of the cycle for an athlete who was fundamental to the club in the recent past.

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The player has no place with Vasco’s current coach

Paulinho’s situation in the current squad is that of a luxury backup. The midfielder did not play at all in August and was on the field for only 18 minutes in July. His last appearance in the Brazilian Championship dates back to May.

Currently, he is recovering from lower back pain. The expectation, however, is that he will be available for the derby against Botafogo. Even so, he remains out of the main plans of the coaching staff.

The midfielder was never able to have a consistent run in the team – Photo: Thiago Ribeiro/Agif/Gazeta Press

Serious injury in 2024 derailed his run

The turning point in Paulinho’s journey was a serious injury suffered at the start of 2024. He tore his knee ligament and was sidelined for about 10 months. Since his return, the player has not been able to reach the level of performance that made him stand out.

The imminent departure contrasts with his starring role at the end of 2023. That season, under the command of Ramón Díaz, Paulinho was a key player in the fight against relegation. He even scored the winning goal against Bragantino in the final round, which secured Vasco’s place in Série A. Now, his cycle at São Januário will end in a quiet and melancholic way.

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