Vasco hand Renato Gaúcho mission to ‘revive’ Claudio Spinelli | OneFootball

Vasco have tasked Renato Gaúcho with reshaping the first team, with the case of Claudio Spinelli now a daily priority. The 29-year-old has struggled to adapt since February, delivering well below what fans and directors expected.

The tactical concern extends beyond poor outings. Atenção Vascaínos reports that Spinelli’s output in closed training at CT Moacyr Barbosa has reached an alarming level, triggering serious unease within the coaching staff.

Club management have placed the matter directly in Renato Gaúcho’s hands. His brief is to integrate Spinelli into Vasco’s system and turn him into the genuine number nine the side lack. The outcome will decide whether the Argentine becomes the answer for goals or remains a name carried by expectation.

Spinelli’s signing was framed as the key plank of Vasco’s 2026 attacking rebuild. The football department paid about US$ two million, roughly R$ 10.5 million, to buy him outright from Independiente del Valle, agreeing a contract through December 2028.

The outlay was underpinned by a prolific 2025, the best season of his career. He featured in 50 games, scored 28 goals and provided two assists, leading productivity in Ecuador. He netted four in the Libertadores and four in the Sul-Americana, two of them against Vasco.

Source: PaponaColina