RIO DE JANEIRO, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Vasco da Gama is close to signing former Lyon and Lille midfielder Thiago Mendes on a free transfer, according to media reports in Brazil.

（里昂综合电）法国足球财政监管机构（DNCG）星期二（6月24日）宣布，法甲七届联赛冠军里昂（Lyon）因为财政状况不佳，被降级到法乙联赛。里昂对裁决立刻提出上诉。