Felipe Melo comments on Vasco’s interest in Uruguayan prospect: ‘Great signing’

The commentator praised the player on their social media.

Looking for ways to strengthen its squad for the upcoming season, Vasco has opened negotiations with Uruguayan defender Alan Saldivia , 23, who plays for Colo-Colo in Chile. In light of this interest, former player and commentator Felipe Melo praised the potential signing by the Rio de Janeiro team.

Through his social media, Felipe Melo recalled facing the young Uruguayan defender in the Libertadores Cup, when he was still playing for Fluminense. According to him, the player had great potential and could even have played in European football.

Before concluding, the commentator highlighted that he hadn’t followed Saldivia’s performances after the Libertadores match, but reinforced that, if the deal goes through, he would be a player who would change Vasco’s defensive level. Check it out below.

“I played against Colo-Colo in the last Libertadores Cup I competed in, and we won both games. When the game ended, I gave an interview and said that if he continued playing and evolving like that, Alan Saldivia would go to Europe as soon as possible because he was a great player. That said, I confess that I haven’t followed him since, I haven’t seen him perform anymore, but if the deal goes through, it’s a great addition. I truly hope it works out; he will raise the level of Vasco’s defensive system. Hopefully, he’ll be the same player I saw some time ago when I played against him, but if Vasco is keeping an eye on him, it’s because he continues to perform,” commented the former player.

Vasco’s interest in Saldivia is not new. He was monitored by the club in the middle of the year, and is being considered again now for the 2026 season. Signing a defender is one of Fernando Diniz’s priorities.

Saldivia is right-footed, 1.80m tall, and has been with Colo-Colo since 2023. He has started in 19 of the team’s 30 games this season, receiving only three yellow cards. The player has one more year on his contract with the Chilean club. (Data from Transfermarkt.)

The signing of Colombian player Johan Rojas, who belongs to Monterrey, Mexico, is well underway. Vasco is trying to secure a loan until the end of next season, with an obligation to buy stipulated in the contract.

Destro, Rojas can play centrally, a position held by Philippe Coutinho at Vasco, or on the wings, mainly on the left side. Initially, the signing is seen as an option to bolster the Vasco squad. The player also has caps for the Colombian under-23 national team.