Author: Barkha Roy
The summer transfer window brought unexpected drama to Barcelona, with 18-year-old Brazilian sensation Vitor Roque eager to don the colors of the blaugrana team sooner than expected. However, the realization of his dream depends on complex negotiations and uncertainties regarding his current club, Athletico Paranaense, and their Copa Libertadores campaign.
Barcelona secured the signing of Vitor Roque last month in a deal worth 30 million euros, with an additional 31 million euros in add-ons depending on his future performance at the Catalan giants. Initially, the agreement called for Roque to join the club in 2024. However, as events unfolded, Roque’s aspirations of playing alongside the likes of Lewandowski and Rafinha increased.
The trigger for this change of plans was the imminent departure of Ousmane Dembele to Paris Saint-Germain, in a surprising move. Dembele’s transfer, which is expected to cost Barcelona around 25 million euros after agent fees, has not only created a gap at the back, but has also potentially eased the club’s financial constraints. This development led Roque to express his desire for an earlier arrival, eager to take advantage of the opportunity left by Dembele’s departure.
Barcelona’s initial plan was to receive Roque when the Financial Fair Play regulations were relaxed by La Liga in the autumn. However, the young Brazilian is eager to join Xavi Hernández’s team immediately, avoiding the wait until January 2024. The club’s board now faces a delicate balance between accommodating Roque within the salary cap and looking for other necessary signings.
However, Roque’s early arrival depends on two critical factors. Firstly, Athletico Paranaense remain determined to keep the young striker until the end of their Copa Libertadores campaign. The Brazilian club, led by interim coach Wesley Carvalho, faces a mountain to climb in the round of 16 after a
3-1 defeat to Bolívar in the first leg.
. If Athletico fail to overcome the deficit in the second leg, Roque’s transfer to Barcelona will become a realistic option before August 31.
On the Barcelona side, no formal steps have been taken for Roque’s immediate arrival. The club, which is still dealing with the intricacies of money, needs to find a way to fit the young Brazilian into its financial limits. While Dembele’s transfer provides some relief in this regard, it also means that Barcelona must carefully prioritize their spending to meet the team’s other needs.
According to Javi Miguel of Diario AS, Roque’s desire to join Barcelona immediately is genuine. However, in order to secure his early transfer, it will be necessary to delicately manage the financial and sporting aspects. Xavi and the club hierarchy are eyeing three more signings during the summer window. Thus, the allocation of funds for Roque’s immediate arrival could affect other possible signings, especially in positions such as right-back and midfield.
Although the situation is far from simple, Barcelona recognize the need to strengthen their attack following Dembele’s departure. Roque, a versatile forward capable of playing on either flank or as a striker, offers an attractive prospect for the Catalan team. With players like Ansu Fati, Raphinha, Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres already available to fill the wing positions, securing Roque’s early transfer could offer an immediate solution to the gap left by Dembele.