Vasco renew interest in 2025 star, rival sees bid turned down | OneFootball

The management of Vasco da Gama remains vigilant to market opportunities to strengthen the 2026 squad. In addition to seeking internationally renowned names, the club is monitoring national standouts who could join the group. This Friday (09), the Cruz-Maltino made a new inquiry about midfielder Luís Mandaca, who belongs to Juventude. The purpose of the contact was to understand the updated values to assess the formalization of an official proposal.

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Rio competition and refusal to Botafogo

Vasco's interest in Mandaca is not new. In December, the club had already sought information about the athlete, entering a behind-the-scenes dispute that also involved Botafogo and Fluminense.

Of the three interested parties from Rio de Janeiro, only Botafogo put an offer on the table. However, Juventude rejected the alvinegro's bid, claiming that the values presented were considered “low.” Now, Vasco is studying the scenario to avoid making the same mistake as their rival and to present an offer that pleases the Gaúchos, taking advantage of the gap left by the neighbor's failed negotiation.

Luís Mandaca stood out for Juventude in the Brasileirão in 2025 – Photo: Fernando Alves/EC Juventude

Favorable scenario for Vasco

Two factors play in favor of a transfer at this moment. First, Juventude's relegation to Serie B increased the need for the club from Caxias do Sul to “raise funds” to balance the accounts. Second, the contractual situation: Luís Mandaca is only under contract until the end of this year (2026). In other words, this is the last window in which Juventude can negotiate him for a significant amount before he can sign a pre-contract for free.

Revealed by Corinthians, the 24-year-old midfielder had a solid individual season, despite his team's relegation. He played 31 matches in the Brasileirão 2025, with two goals and one assist, numbers that qualify him to remain in the national elite.

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