Vasco: Martín Palermo breaks silence after deal rumours | OneFootball

Vasco da Gama's search for a replacement for Renato Gaúcho has entered a new international chapter filled with conflicting information behind the scenes of football. After the difficulties faced in negotiations for Portuguese coach Franclim Carvalho, the name of Argentine Martín Palermo began to be heavily mentioned as the favorite to take charge in the second half of the season.

Initial rumors, reported by Cazé TV, indicated that talks had progressed positively and that the official announcement of the former Boca Juniors striker could happen in the coming days. However, speculation of a quick outcome was completely denied by the 52-year-old himself in a direct market inquiry.

+ Vasco agrees to pay the release clause, but doubts hold up a deal with Franclim Carvalho

The reality of Vasco's inquiry behind the scenes

In a brief exchange with journalist Matheus Giuberti, the coach revealed that he is currently in Dallas, United States, working on World Cup coverage and said he is unaware of any contact from the Cruz-Maltino board. The reality behind the rumors is that the club’s leadership only made a superficial inquiry to understand the manager’s financial terms and availability, without presenting any offers.

The coach has a solid résumé in Latin American football, with spells at clubs such as Godoy Cruz, Unión Española, Pachuca and Fortaleza, which marked his first professional experience in Brazilian football last season. His strong leadership profile appeals to the club’s advisers, but the sporting department will need to formalize talks if it wants to turn the simple inquiry into a definitive contract.

Short deadline and focus on the Brasileirão

Vasco’s board is trying to make the most of the remaining daily training period caused by the competition break to tactically restructure the main squad. The management’s top priority is to bring stability to the locker room and move the team away from the bottom spots in the Brazilian Championship standings.

As the team only returns to the pitch in the second half of July against Vitória at Barradão, the directors are racing against time to appoint a new coaching staff. Any practical progress in negotiations will also require the bureaucratic approval of court-appointed overseer Samantha Mendes Longo, who is monitoring the cash flow of Vasco SAF during this transition period.

Who is Martín Palermo?

The experienced 52-year-old Argentine built a legendary career on South American pitches, achieving the status of Boca Juniors' all-time top scorer, a club where he won the Copa Libertadores and the Intercontinental Cup.

He played at the 2010 World Cup and, as already mentioned, began his coaching career in 2013. Since then, he has led teams such as Godoy Cruz, Unión Española and Pachuca, in addition to a recent spell at Fortaleza, which marked his first job in Brazilian football.

Martín Palermo was sounded out by Vasco – Photo: Mateus Lotif/Fortaleza EC

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