At 18 years old, Vitor Roque (Timóteo, Brazil, 2005) signed his dream contract with FC Barcelona in July. The Brazilian pearl of Athletico Paranaense sealed his contract as a Barça player until 2029 plus an optional season for 30 million fixed euros and another amount of 31 million in variables. Given the complicated economic situation of the Barcelona club, which lacked (and lacks) the financial fair play necessary to register him, the forward stayed in Brazil. In principle, the football management led by Mateu Alemany at that time did not expect to incorporate him until June 2024 so that his arrival would not count in the salary bill for this year. However, the door was not completely closed on the Brazilian being able to land in Barcelona in January.
Deco is working on this. As this newspaper learned, the now football director has traveled to Brazil taking advantage of the international break to talk with the player and with Athletico Paranaense with the aim of establishing the bases and spelling out the conditions so that Roque can join during the winter window .
There will be no problem with the Brazilian club. When Barcelona tied up Vitor Roque in the contracts with Paranaense, it was already stipulated that the footballer could arrive in January or June without the Barcelona club having to advance more money. Yes, Barcelona will have to make an effort to generate financial fair play. At the club they estimate that it is necessary to release between 10 and 12 million euros to be able to register Roque, something that can only be achieved through the sale of players, salary adjustment of footballer contracts or if the club increases its income with 40 million that he must still receive from the Libero fund (or any other) for the resale of Barça Studios. The club also insists that, beyond Vitor Roque, it is necessary to normalize Gavi's situation, registered by court order and in a precautionary manner.
Exits are practically ruled out. Xavi has a short staff and does not want to part with any cash. Regarding salary adjustment, the club would like to apply the Ter Stegen route with Frenkie de Jong. The German goalkeeper renewed his contract in the summer until 2028 with a salary adjustment deferring part of his salary. The negotiation with the Barcelona captain helped register second goalkeeper Iñaki Peña and also Marcos Alonso in August. De Jong has a contract until 2026. He also has one of the highest salaries in the squad. Neither the footballer nor his agents were satisfied with the attempt to sell him last summer.
Now, with Deco at the helm, De Jong and the club have begun to discuss their future from scratch and, for now, without major progress. In this negotiation, Barcelona must also take into account that the player's market value has skyrocketed. According to the data published yesterday by the reference portal Transfermarkt, the Dutchman's value grows by 15 million and stands at 90 million, his historical record. In fact, thanks to this growth and also that of Lamine Yamal, whose market value has gone from 25 to 50 million euros, the value of the Catalan club grows by 50 million, from 814 to 864.
Although he is aware of the club's financial situation, Xavi Hernández and his coaching staff would like to be able to count on Vitor Roque as soon as possible. They consider that he is a very young player who has shown to have great potential in Brazil. They also ask for patience for a center forward who can play as a winger but whose career is marked by precocity and who since September 21 has been recovering from a grade three sprain in his right ankle. He had never before suffered an injury of this magnitude. The first forecasts placed his return at the end of the year. That is why the statements of his agent, André Cury, on RAC1 were surprising, assuring with “in four weeks, at most, it can be ready”, that Roque's return could take place on November 12, three weeks before the deadline.
At Barcelona, the medical services are in permanent and weekly contact with the Brazilian footballer and are not so optimistic about Cury's prognosis. They assure that his recovery is progressing correctly and place his return in December.
