Matheus França’s temporary spell at Vasco da Gama is rapidly being viewed as a move that has gone wrong on all sides.
Brazilian outlets Globo Esporte and Itatiaia Esporte report that Vasco are now holding internal talks about the midfielder’s situation, fully aware that his displays since arriving from Crystal Palace have fallen far below what was expected.
Despite being among the club’s better-paid players, França’s output has been non-existent. Across 21 appearances, he has failed to register a single goal or assist. For someone brought in to provide imagination and quality in advanced areas, that lack of end product has been damning.
Slipping down the pecking order
As a result, his standing within the squad has declined sharply. França is now seen as the fourth-choice option in his role, and even Fernando Diniz’s regular rotation has not helped him regain momentum. On several occasions, he has been left out simply on merit.
That included the match against third-tier Madureira, where he was omitted despite a rotated team. In the derby with Botafogo, he remained an unused substitute.
When he has featured, such as in the opening league defeat to Mirassol, the pattern has been familiar. Minimal influence, frustration from supporters in the stands and no real sign that things are turning around.
Loan exit already discussed
Behind the scenes, there is an acceptance at Vasco that França has not come close to delivering the level they anticipated. While there is no active push to terminate the deal early, the fact that it has even been debated highlights the scale of the disappointment.
With the loan set to expire in July and no prospect of a permanent move, the Brazilian media now describe his time at Vasco as a clear misstep.
For Crystal Palace, the situation is far from ideal. Rather than rediscovering form and confidence, França appears set to return with diminished standing, zero attacking return and growing uncertainty over his future role.