Deal falls through: Mehdi Taremi turns down move to Vasco | OneFootball

Vasco's search for an internationally renowned No. 9 suffered a setback this past Monday (27). Striker Mehdi Taremi, currently at Olympiacos in Greece, showed no interest in the official offer made for him to play in Brazilian football. According to information published by ge, the experienced 34-year-old center-forward is prioritizing continuing his professional career in the European market at this stage of his career.

The player was identified through a joint assessment conducted by director Admar Lopes and head coach Pedro Emanuel, who know the player's qualities very well. They worked with the striker during his most brilliant spell at Porto, in Portugal, where he posted impressive numbers between the 2020 and 2024 seasons. Now, Vasco's board is racing against time to fill the vacancy in the attacking sector and is keeping other names under watch.

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Taremi almost played for a Vasco rival

This is not the first time the name of Iran's captain at the last World Cup has been on the radar of a Rio de Janeiro club. Last year (2025), Botafogo tried to make his arrival happen right after the end of his contract with Inter Milan. On that occasion, talks did not move forward due to the high salary demands presented by his camp, forcing the black-and-whites to pull out of the deal.

Despite the striker's immediate refusal, Vasco's executives managed to speed up other important negotiations to calm the fans at São Januário. Colombian defensive midfielder Nelson Deossa is just bureaucratic details away from being announced on loan from Betis, in Spain. In addition, the club is making steady progress toward signing fellow midfielder Santiago Sosa from Racing, aiming to give the squad more physical strength in the Brazilian Championship.

Who is Mehdi Taremi?

Mehdi Taremi is a classic center-forward known for his excellent presence in the box, sharp eye for goal, and tactical intelligence to set up his teammates. The player reached his peak in Europe wearing the Porto shirt, where he made 182 official appearances, scoring 91 goals and providing 47 assists.

A leader and technical reference, the experienced player represented Iran at the 2026 World Cup and remains one of Olympiacos' main attacking weapons on the international stage.

Taremi faced Cape Verde, Vozinha's team, at the World Cup – Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

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