Author: Soorya G
Barcelona have officially completed the signing of young striker Vitor Roque from Athletico-PR for a fee of around 40 million euros (US$44 million). The 18-year-old Brazilian talent has signed a contract with the Catalan club until the end of the 2030-31 season. Roque should join his new teammates next summer, showing his immense potential on the big stage. Notably, his release clause was set at an incredible 500 million euros, underlining Barcelona’s belief in his future prospects.
The player is Barcelona’s third signing in the current transfer window, joining Ilkay Gundogan and Inigo Martinez, who arrived as free agents following the expiry of their contracts with Manchester City and Athletic Club respectively. With striker Robert Lewandowski reaching the age of 35 in August, securing a backup option and a possible successor to the Polish maestro has become a key priority for Barcelona. Roque emerged as his main target, attracting the attention of the club’s sporting director, Deco, and leading to accelerated negotiations.
“He has his own style. You can’t compare him to Ronaldo or Romário. He’s someone who’s deadly with both feet in the box. He’s different from what we’ve had here before. If you had to compare him to anyone, it would be Ronaldo, who was a force of nature with us. Roque has a lot of potential, he’s young, powerful and Brazilian.” said President Joan Laporta during the announcement.
The young prodigy made a name for himself with impressive performances for Athletico and Brazil’s youth teams. He played a key role in his club’s journey to the Copa Libertadores final last season and recently earned his first call-up to his country’s senior squad. Roque’s goalscoring prowess cannot be ignored, with 22 goals in 65 appearances for Athletico, including an impressive run of six goals in as many games.
Zico, the legendary Brazilian footballer, also recognized Roque’s immense potential and projected him as the future No. 9 of the Brazilian national team. This high praise from a respected figure like Zico further solidifies the belief in Roque’s abilities and underlines the trust placed in him.
“There’s no doubt that Vitor Roque will be the No9 of the Brazilian national team in the future. As soon as he takes to the field, he shows impressive maturity and decision-making, and his undeniable talent shines through in every action he takes.” said Zico.