€25m agreement nearing completion for the 18-year-old prodigy. From Robinho to the banlieue, shaped by De Zerbi
AS Roma are closing in on one of the most exciting teenage prospects in European football. The Giallorossi are now very close to an agreement for Robinio Vaz, the explosive forward currently at Olympique de Marseille. The total package is expected to reach around €25 million, and confirmation has arrived from Marseille’s sporting leadership: Roma are the club furthest advanced in the race.
It would be a major investment, but one fully aligned with Roma’s new strategy—moving early, beating elite competition, and offering a central role immediately to top young talents under Gian Piero Gasperini.
A meteoric rise
Everything has happened fast for Robinio Vaz. Just a year ago he was making his professional debut before turning 18; today he is on the radar of Europe’s biggest clubs. His breakthrough came at Marseille under Roberto De Zerbi, whose aggressive, vertical football proved the perfect stage for Vaz’s blend of power, pace and technique.
The numbers already tell a compelling story: 4 goals and 2 assists in only 373 minutes in Ligue 1, plus 4 Champions League appearances. For a player born in 2007, it’s an exceptional early résumé.
A name, a background, a mentality
“Robinio” is not just a nickname—it’s a tribute to Robinho, a childhood idol chosen by his father, a factory worker and lifelong football fan. Born in Mantes-la-Jolie and raised in the banlieue of Val la Fourré, Vaz grew up on street football and endless neighborhood games, where talent is forged through competition and survival.
Rejected early by PSG and Lyon due to off-field concerns, he rebuilt his path at Sochaux before Marseille took the gamble that changed everything. From his first assist on debut in Ligue 1 at Strasbourg to his devastating impact off the bench this season, Vaz has shown maturity beyond his age.
Why Roma are in pole position
Roma’s edge over English and German rivals lies in one key factor: immediate sporting relevance. While other clubs could sign Vaz only to loan him out, Roma are prepared to make him a protagonist right away. Under Gasperini—renowned for developing young, physically dominant attackers—the Frenchman would be placed at the heart of a clear technical project.
Marseille tried to secure him with a new contract (six times his current salary), but Vaz has no intention of renewing. Recent exclusions from the squad have further accelerated the exit process.
Roma are now firmly in control of the race. And if the deal is finalized, Vaz will arrive not as a speculative signing, but as a statement of intent—raw talent, elite potential, and a future the club wants to start shaping immediately in Serie A.
