Vasco reject Grêmio’s big bid for Paulo Henrique, eye legal action | OneFootball

The atmosphere behind the scenes of Brazilian football has heated up between Vasco da Gama and Grêmio. The Rio club has adopted a zero-tolerance stance and vehemently rejected a heavy bid from the Gauchos for right-back Paulo Henrique. According to exclusive information shared by journalist Lucas Pedrosa during the program Geral CazeTV, the offer put on the table by the Tricolor was 2 million euros (approximately R$ 12.3 million at the current exchange rate), in addition to the permanent transfer of a player from the Grêmio squad to complete the deal.

However, Vasco's refusal goes beyond financial issues or the mere technical evaluation of the athlete. What decisively weighed in for the veto was the deep irritation of the high command at São Januário with the handling of negotiations by the rival. The news recently reported in the Southern press, stating that Paulo Henrique had already agreed on salary terms and contract duration with Grêmio — even before any green light from Vasco — was interpreted as an affront and an unforgivable breach of ethics in the football market.

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Threat of legal measures and “enticement”

In light of the scenario of institutional disrespect, Vasco does not rule out turning the market dispute into a legal battle. According to Lucas Pedrosa's findings, the club's legal department is already considering taking formal measures on the case.

The management believes there may have been enticement (undue solicitation of a player under contract) by Grêmio, a practice condemned by FIFA and CBF regulations.

The internal understanding is that the leak of the “agreement” aimed to destabilize the environment and force the sale, something the current management is not willing to tolerate.

Firm stance and message to the market

The firm stance serves as a clear message to the market: Vasco will not accept external pressures to release its assets, regardless of the amounts involved. Paulo Henrique, who is in a moment of affirmation and is an important piece in the tactical scheme for the 2026 season, remains in the plans of the technical staff.

By rejecting more than R$ 12 million for a defender, the club also signals that, despite the known budgetary constraints in this window, it is not willing to part with starters at any cost, especially when it feels institutionally disrespected. Keeping the athlete reaffirms the commitment to sporting performance over immediate profit.

PH reached the Brazilian National Team playing for the Gigante da Colina – Photo: Rafael Ribeiro/ CBF

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