RIO DE JANEIRO, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Vasco da Gama conceded Wednesday they face losing Ecuador striker Carlos Tenorio due to the club's inability to pay salaries on time.
The debt-stricken Brazilian outfit confirmed the 33-year-old is owed 600,000 U.S. dollars in unpaid wages and image rights.
"We have spoken with the player and his agent and we left it up to them to decide to stay or leave," Vasco's executive director Rene Simoes said.
"I can't say right now when we will be able to pay him, which is what his agent requested. Our expectation is that we will have our finances in order by July.
"Until then we can't talk about any timeframe. If he (Tenorio) thinks it's best to leave now, the decision is for him to make."
Tenorio, who has won 51 international caps for Ecuador, is not the first player to express his discontent at Vasco's financial plight.
The club has lost former Brazil international playmaker Juninho, goalkeeper Fernando Prass and midfielder Nilton since December due to outstanding payments.
Paulo Autuori, who replaced Gaucho as the team's head coach in March, last week warned he would resign if wages were not paid on time.
Vasco's financial director Nelson Rocha revealed in January that the club's net debt had spiralled to 125 million U.S. dollars.