Author: Shreyas Sharma
In a heartbreaking turn of events, Athletico’s 18-year-old striker Vitor Roque suffered a devastating injury, rupturing two ligaments in his right ankle during a match vs.
Internacional in the 24th round of the Brazilian Championship
. The young talent, who had been in phenomenal form with 11 goals in Serie A, now faces an uncertain road to recovery, with no definite deadline for his return to the pitch.
After the unfortunate incident, medical examinations confirmed the extent of the damage, and the possibility of surgery is being considered. Roque’s injury was caused by former teammate Nicolás Hernández and, despite initial hopes of a minor sprain, it soon became clear that the injury was much more serious.
Vítor Roque was violently tackled and had to leave on a stretcher, in tears.pic.twitter.com/LYBl5cvXZr
– B24 (@B24PT) September 21, 2023
This setback couldn’t have come at a worse time for Roque, who was about to fulfill his dream of representing Brazil in the World Cup Qualifiers. The news of his injury ended his hopes of being called up by interim coach Fernando Diniz for the upcoming games against Venezuela and Uruguay.
To make matters worse, Roque is about to be transferred to Barcelona in a high-risk deal potentially worth up to R$400 million. Although the original contract provided for a transfer in July 2024, Barcelona have announced their intention to take him to Spain as early as January next year. This development raises doubts as to whether Roque will ever wear the Athletico shirt again.
Throughout 2023, Vitor Roque was one of Athletico’s standout performers, with an impressive record of 20 goals and seven assists in just 42 games. His absence leaves a significant void in the team and in the hearts of the fans, who expressed their frustration by cursing Nicolás Hernández during the match.
Nico Hernández, who previously played for Athletico and won the South American Cup in 2021, moved to Internacional this year, and the injury incident added a new layer of complexity to their relationship. Inter retained 60% of Hernández’s economic rights without financial compensation, while Athletico kept 25% for possible resale, with the contract set to run until December 2024.