Rio de Janeiro, March 14 (IANS): Brazil's Vasco da Gama are set to sign Argentine midfielder Emanuel Biancucchi, who is a cousin of Lionel Messi.
The 26-year-old former 1860 Munich player has agreed to terms and is expected to undergo a medical with the Rio de Janeiro club on Saturday. He will be the fifth foreigner in Vasco's squad alongside Martin Silva (Uruguay), Julio dos Santos (Paraguay), Pablo Guinazu (Argentina) and Santiago Montoya (Colombia), reports Xinhua.
Biancucchi joins the four-time Brazilian Serie A champions from Bahia where his brother Maxi also plays. His previous clubs include Girona (Spain), Independiente (Paraguay) and Olimpia (Paraguay).
Vasco were promoted to Brazil's top flight in December after finishing third in Serie B. They will begin their 2015 Serie A campaign against Goias on May 9.