Author: Amrit Santlani
Brazilian striker Vitor Roque is close to a full and final deal with FC Barcelona, after the Catalans agreed a fee of 40 million euros for the Athletico-PR forward. However, it is not yet known when Roque will be able to join Barça, as the two clubs are still in negotiations to finalize the transfer.
The La Liga giants beat other interested parties to the Brazilian jewel, as they are looking for the heir apparent to Robert Lewandowski, the Polish striker who turns 35 next month.
Roque, 18, had been scoring goals for fun and, after Barça’s sporting director Deco helped seal a deal with the Brazilian star, the transfer is close to being completed, but it is not yet known when the player will arrive at Camp Nou.
The Catalans are treading on difficult territory due to the club’s financial difficulties. They have a job to do, as they have to comply with La Liga’s strict financial fair play rules. Barça will only be able to spend 50% of everything it saves or raises after registering players.
Roque has three options in front of him: either he can join his new club straight away, or he will have to wait until January or perhaps until next summer. Earlier this week, the club’s directors offered a €6.7 million (US$7.3 million) guarantee against their viability plan to ensure that they can officially conclude the new contracts signed by players such as Ronald Araujo, Marcos Alonso, Sergi Roberto and Iñaki Peña.
Barça have signed Ilkay Gundogan from Manchester City and officially unveiled Inigo Martinez from Athletic Bilbao on a free transfer. Ideally, Barça would like Roque to arrive in Spain this summer to lighten Lewandowski’s load, as the Brazilian can also play at full-back. However, it will depend on the club’s finances to find a way to accommodate their latest signing.
The Camp Nou club are also keen to sign Oriol Romeu from Girona and right-back Iván Fresneda from Real Valladolid.