Vasco faces Grêmio this Wednesday in Porto Alegre, with two major concerns on the agenda. Firstly, the team aims to bounce back from three consecutive defeats against São Paulo, Botafogo, and Juventude in the Brazilian Championship.
Secondly, and perhaps more critically, the club is considering an official proposal from Barcelona for their standout 19-year-old forward, Rayan, who has been a star for the team this season.
According to the website “NETVASCO,” the Catalan club submitted an official offer to Vasco on Monday night. Barcelona’s aim is to secure Rayan during this current transfer window. However, the report suggests that the financial offer put forward is below the player’s release clause, which is approximately R$ 400 million.
Vasco is still analyzing the offer but understands that a higher bid would be necessary to avoid dissatisfaction among their supporters. Currently, Rayan is one of Vasco’s most important players, being central to Fernando Diniz’s tactics.Notably, the coach has even opted to leave top scorer Pablo Vegetti on the bench to highlight the young player’s potential.
Barcelona’s intentions have grown stronger over recent weeks, prompting the Spanish club to dispatch representatives to closely evaluate the forward. According to reports from their scouting team, Rayan’s performance was rated highly, boosting interest beyond preliminary inquiries. As a result, Vasco is now racing against time to safeguard its interests and negotiate a more profitable transfer for the club.
Meanwhile, Rayan, who has openly expressed his desire to stay with the Rio-based team, is carefully considering the opportunity to join one of the world’s most prominent clubs. Another team showing interest in the 19-year-old forward is Portugal’s Porto, though their interest has yet to progress beyond initial discussions.
Despite being under judicial recovery, Vasco is determined not to let go of Rayan easily, knowing it is unlikely any club will pay his full buyout clause.