Barcelona has signed Brazilian player Vitor Roque from Paranaense for an initial fee of €40 million, which could potentially rise to €61 million with add-ons. Roque, an 18-year-old forward, has signed a contract until 2031 and has an exit clause of €500 million. He is considered one of the most valuable players in Brazil at the moment, with a market value of €18 million.
Barcelona will have to comply with Financial Fair Play rules, so the transfer will not be completed until the summer of 2024. To sign Roque this year, Barcelona would have to sell several players, including Ferran Torres, Ansu Fati, and Raphinha, who are all under contract until 2027.
Roque has already made an impact in Brazilian football, scoring 22 goals and providing eight assists in 65 games for Paranaense. In the current Brasileiro season, he has scored seven goals in 13 games, averaging a goal every 133 minutes. He is regarded as a clutch player who always manages to deliver decisive assists or goals.
Football experts have compared Roque to Brazilian legend Ronaldo and believe he has the potential to become a generational talent. He possesses speed, skills, composure on the ball, and a strong finish. Roque was instrumental in helping Paranaense reach the final of the Libertadores, scoring two goals and providing two assists in the competition.
The consensus among experts is that Roque’s ultimate ceiling is to become Brazil’s number 9 for the next two or three World Cups. They believe he has the potential to surpass his predecessor Endrick and become a World-class player if he continues to develop.
The signing of Vitor Roque adds to Barcelona’s long list of record signings and reinforces their commitment to investing in young talent. It remains to be seen how Roque will perform at the LaLiga club once the transfer is completed in 2024, but expectations are high for the young Brazilian forward.
