Despite the fact that he is a teenager, Vitor Roque received a grand farewell, worthy of a footballer with more experience. All the players of Athlético Paranaense wore a shirt with a patch that incorporated the name of the striker and his number, the number 9. The crowd at the stadium in Curitiba gave him a standing ovation and the boy left between tears of emotion in the victory against Santos (3-0). They have barely enjoyed it at Furacao, but it has left its mark. At 18 years old, he is waiting for nothing less than Barça, who have paid 30 million fixed for him and can pay 31 more in variables.
He will land there in January to strengthen a Barça vanguard that is not exactly short of goals.
"I hope to arrive prepared. I am working hard mentally to make it so. I am going to Barcelona with great humility. My mentality will be to work, work and work. If I do it like this, I'm sure that things will turn out well for me", says Vitor Roque, known as Tigrinho.
The attacker hopes to follow the Brazilian path of Barça, although it will not be easy considering the quality of his predecessors (Romário, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, to mention some of the most prominent ones). "My dream has always been to go to Europe and be able to play in a club of the greatness of Barcelona, where so many Brazilians have succeeded", he acknowledges.
Vitor Roque says that he is up to date with Barcelona news and that he has watched all the matches of Xavi's team to familiarize himself with what awaits him from January.
He has scored 12 goals in 25 games and probably would have scored more had he not been injured two months after tearing ankle ligaments. He still has one game left with his club, but it is away from home against Cuiabá, in the morning from Thursday to Friday in Spain. After that, he will only think about Blaugrana. "I am very happy for everything that is happening in my life".
In Barcelona, his main supporter, Deco, is waiting for him with open arms, who recommends that he pay attention to Lewandowski's job. "Vitor Roque has a goal and will have Robert in front to learn". He will have to do it quickly because the season is advanced.
