Vasco set to lose Paulo Henrique? Serie A rival circling 👀 | OneFootball

Vasco da Gama may have to deal with an approach from Palmeiras for right-back Paulo Henrique, but the timing of this potential negotiation divides opinions. According to information from the channel TV Espírito de Porco (in partnership with journalists Matheus Giubert and Diego Firmino), the São Paulo club has identified the number 96 as a priority target if the Argentine Agustín Giay is sold to Italian football (Atalanta and Genoa). The interest from the green and white team focuses on the player's physical potential and recent history but ignores a significant technical decline that worries Vasco's fans.

To understand the scenario, it's necessary to separate the Paulo Henrique of 2025 from the current one. Last season, he experienced the peak of his career: he was a leader in duels won, contributed to 10 goals, and was even called up to the Brazilian National Team in November. It was this elite performance that put his name on Abel Ferreira's table.

+ Vasco has a deadline to close with Cuiabano and surpass competitors; a Serie A club is coming strong for the player

Why has Paulo Henrique become so valuable in the market?

The interest from the powerful rival is not by chance but the result of an impressive evolution. Paulo Henrique is at the peak of his technical and physical form. Although he missed the team's debut against Mirassol due to foot pain, the right-back is coming off a simply spectacular 2025 season. He has gone from being just a "speed option" to becoming a complete and decisive right-back, with numbers that catch the attention of any performance analyst.

The data doesn't lie: there were 4 goals and 6 assists last year. Directly participating in 10 goals in a season is an elite mark for right-backs in Brazil. This consistency caught the attention even of the Brazilian National Team, elevating PH from a prospect to an international-level reality. His ability to "turn on the turbo" and recover defensively with intensity (almost 400 duels won) fits perfectly with what modern football demands.

Paulo Henrique had an almost perfect year at Vasco in 2025 – Photo: Ruano Carneiro/Getty Images

The "Amarelinha curse" and the drought at Vasco in 2026

However, since returning from his time with the National Team, Paulo Henrique's football seems to have "disappeared." The player, who was once a lethal outlet on the right, started 2026 in a timid and bureaucratic manner in the Campeonato Carioca. In the four official matches for Vasco he played this year (before being sidelined due to foot pain against Mirassol), he did not score any goals, did not provide assists, and made decision-making errors that he did not previously commit.

Although he remains the absolute starter for Fernando Diniz — largely due to a lack of confidence in Puma Rodríguez — PH is under pressure. The fans have been demanding the return of that aggressive right-back who decided games. Palmeiras, therefore, is betting on the recovery of this asset, while Vasco faces the dilemma: hold onto a starter in poor form hoping for a comeback or consider a potential advantageous offer for a player who fluctuated just after reaching his peak valuation?

PH is experiencing a technical decline since returning from the National Team – Photo: Rafael Ribeiro/ CBF

+ Follow Papo na Colina's social media: Thread, Bluesky, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok and Google News.

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