Matheus Franca is yet to start a game for Vasco da Gama since his move from Crystal Palace in August.
The Brazilian has returned to his homeland on loan for the 2025/26 campaign after a series of niggling injuries back at Selhurst Park – which limited him to just 19 appearances in two years since a £26m move from Flamengo in August 2023.
With chances hard to come by under Oliver Glasner in SE25, Crystal Palace saw fit to loan Matheus Franca out – but Globo Esporte have now shared why the South American is still struggling for playing time.
Vasco da Gama are easing Matheus Franca in
The 21-year-old has made six appearances for the Brazilian side so far, totalling 118 minutes, but is yet to be named in the starting XI.
The Brazilian news outlet believe those in the boardroom at Vasco da Gama view this period as something “natural” for a player who has experienced what Franca – who is feeling positive – has dealt with across the last two years.
Globo Esporte add that Vasco da Gama have opted for “progressive training to avoid overload” when it comes to the Brazil U20 international – treating the attacking midfielder “cautiously” but still intending to hand him a start when it is sensible to do so.
It is unusual for a side to be so careful with a loanee, so perhaps this order has come from those back at Crystal Palace – regardless, it is good to see Vasco da Gama recognise the fragility of Franca at this current moment.
Vasco da Gama do not have an option to buy the man from Rio de Janeiro permanently at the end of the season, with the report adding that Crystal Palace still have high hopes for the £26m man.
Two other talents are fighting for a career at Crystal Palace
Franca is not the only one who has something to prove to Steve Parish and Glasner.
Romain Esse and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi are two other young talents who currently find themselves somewhat in limbo at Crystal Palace.
Esse was dropped by Glasner after a woeful performance in the Carabao Cup win over Millwall, but has since impressed for the Crystal Palace U21 side as well as the England U21 side.
Furthermore, Rak-Sakyi was the subject of two £15m bids in the summer of 2024, both of which Crystal Palace rejected, and the England U21 international now finds himself on loan at Caykur Rizespor in Turkey.
Glasner quite clearly has high standards when it comes to who makes his squad, so the trio of Franca, Esse and Rak-Sakyi have a lot to prove this season.
