Vasco track Arboleda, São Paulo suggest swap for Piton and Hinestroza | OneFootball

Vasco has officially inquired about the situation of Ecuadorian center-back Arboleda, who is currently training separately from the Tricolor squad. The defender is on a collision course with São Paulo after disappearing for about a month amid disagreements with the board. According to João Pedro Cunha, the reporter covering the São Paulo club, names such as Lucas Piton and Hinestroza have started to be discussed as possible bargaining chips.

The São Paulo club views the possibility of having the Colombian forward in its squad favorably. The internal understanding is that the most viable scenario would be a loan with a purchase option set for the end of the deal. The player has still not managed to establish himself as an undisputed starter at São Januário and could gain space in these future talks.

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Marino Hinestroza is not going through a good spell at Colina — Photo: Alexandre Durão

São Paulo targets Lucas Piton, and Vasco prioritizes a sale to Europe

The left-back’s situation is considered much more complex by the board led by president Pedrinho. Vasco has shown no initial interest in strengthening domestic rivals by letting go of an asset considered an important part of the squad. The Rio club’s aim is to negotiate the player directly with European football in order to secure a greater financial return.

Italy appears to be the most likely destination for the left-footed defender in the event of an international transfer. For that reason, Vasco is being cautious in talks involving any kind of swap deal with the club from MorumBIS. The board prefers to wait for offers from abroad before strengthening a direct rival in Brazilian football with a standout player.

Piton has been a Vasco player since 2023 – Photo: Dikran Sahagian/Vasco

Competition for the Ecuadorian center-back is fierce in Brazilian football

The defender remains highly valued on the market and has drawn interest from other clubs such as Athletico Paranaense, Atlético Mineiro, Botafogo, and Grêmio. In fact, this scenario of multiple interested parties was one of the factors that led the Tricolor to give up on an immediate contract termination. Vasco knows it will need to unlock the deal in the coming days so as not to lose the player to one of these rivals.

The transfer window in Brazil will only reopen on July 20, the date on which any agreement can officially be signed. Until then, the clubs continue to analyze possibilities and business models to fill their defensive gaps. The expectation is that the Ecuadorian player’s future will be definitively settled in the coming weeks before registrations reopen.

Who is Arboleda?

Arboleda is a right-footed center-back, 34 years old, and has extensive experience in Brazilian football, having played in the country continuously since 2017. He is seen by Vasco’s football department as a high-profile name capable of stepping straight into the starting lineup and bringing solidity to the team’s defense under Renato Gaúcho.

Despite the optimism regarding a possible deal, Vasco fans will need to be a little patient if the negotiation goes through. Due to current CBF rules, even if the Ecuadorian signs his termination with São Paulo in the coming days, he will only be able to be registered and make his debut in the Cruz-Maltino shirt after the official opening of the mid-year transfer window, scheduled for July 20.

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