Vasco target Claudio Spinelli unlikely to sign for Argentine club | OneFootball

Forward Claudio Spinelli, one of the names being monitored by Vasco to strengthen their offensive sector in 2026, is not expected to sign with Independiente of Argentina. Despite recent reports about possible interest from the Argentine club, Papo na Colina has learned from sources in Argentina that El Rojo does not have the financial means to move forward with the deal at this time.

In addition to budget limitations, Independiente has already closed its transfer window, making any immediate move for the striker unfeasible. As a result, Spinelli's name remains available in the South American market and continues to be evaluated by Vasco as an option for the attacking position.

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Photo: Reproduction/Instagram.

Standout at Independiente del Valle draws Vasco's attention

Claudio Spinelli is experiencing the best moment of his career since joining Independiente del Valle at the start of 2025. In his first full season with the Ecuadorian club, the striker scored 28 goals in 52 matches, numbers that placed him among the top scorers in South American football for the year.

His performance caught Vasco's attention, as the club seeks to improve its offensive output and sees the player as a market option. Beyond his impressive stats, Spinelli stood out for decisive performances in both national and continental competitions.

Claudio Spinelli's football career

Born in Buenos Aires on June 21, 1997, Claudio Spinelli began his journey in the youth ranks of Tigre, Argentina. Despite performing well during his development, he had few opportunities with the first team.

In 2017, he was loaned to San Martín de San Juan, where he scored seven goals in 13 matches, a performance that opened doors to European football. The following year, he was signed by Genoa, Italy, and loaned to Crotone in Serie B, but struggled to adapt.

After his stint in Italy, Spinelli gained experience at clubs such as Argentinos Juniors and Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, as well as playing in Slovenia for NK Koper and in Ukraine for FC Oleksandriya. Between 2023 and 2024, he played for Deportivo Maldonado and Defensor Sporting in Uruguay, as well as Bnei Sakhnin in Israel, gaining international experience, albeit without major individual highlights.

Offensive explosion in Ecuadorian football

Signed by Independiente del Valle in January 2025, Spinelli joined the Ecuadorian club as a bet for the offensive sector. In just a few months, he surpassed all his previous career records.

In the first eight months at Del Valle alone, he scored 17 goals in 32 games, across the national championship and continental competitions. One of the most memorable moments was his hat-trick in the 3-0 win over Deportivo Cuenca in the 2025 LigaPro, a performance that earned him the player of the round award.

In the 2025 Copa Sudamericana, the striker also gained notoriety by scoring three goals, two of them precisely against Vasco in the competition's playoffs. He found the net in the 4-0 rout in the first leg and scored again in the 1-1 draw in Rio de Janeiro, helping to eliminate the Rio club.

Claudio Spinelli's career stats

Claudio Spinelli's contract situation

Claudio Spinelli is under contract with Independiente del Valle until December 2027. The transfer was made official in January 2025, when the Ecuadorian club paid around 194,000 euros to acquire him from Defensor Sporting of Uruguay.

The long contract and the striker's good form mean that any potential transfer would involve significant sums, requiring caution from interested clubs.

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Photo: Reproduction/Instagram.

Racism case in Ecuador?

Amid his good sporting phase, Spinelli's name was also involved in a recent controversy in Ecuadorian football. The striker was accused of making discriminatory comments towards an LDU player during a LigaPro match.

In response to the accusations, Spinelli filed a formal request with LigaPro, asking for image analysis and the collection of testimonies to prove the falsity of the allegations. The player claims that his professional reputation is being harmed by the accusations.

So far, no concrete evidence has been presented to confirm the incident. The identity of the allegedly offended player has not been disclosed, and LigaPro has not yet officially commented on the progress of the investigation. The outcome of the case depends on the entity's analysis and the enforcement of anti-racism protocols in Ecuadorian football.

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