Vasco defender urges coach Ricardo to decline Middle East offer

Vasco da Gama centre-back Frickson Erazo has urged the team's head coach Ze Ricardo to resist overtures from Saudi Arabia to remain in Rio de Janeiro.

Ricardo has reportedly received a lucrative offer to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli, just weeks before Vasco's debut in the group stage of this year's Copa Libertadores, South America's top club competition, reports Xinhua news agency.

"When a player or a coach stands out, it's normal for other clubs to try to sign them," Erazo told reporters.

"He has been doing a great job and we know what some of the proposals from the Middle East are like. If I had received a proposal, I would be thinking about it too.

"We hope that he will stay. We know it is something that could help his career, his life and his family, but here he is experiencing something special too. It's not every day that you get the chance to play in the Copa Libertadores," the Ecuador international added.

Former Flamengo coach Ricardo took charge of Vasco last August and guided them from the bottom half of the 20-team standings to seventh at the end of 2017.

Vasco's opening Copa Libertadores fixture will be a home clash against Chile's Universidad on March 12.

--IANS

sam/ksk