Vitor Roque saga nears a resolution as Saudi club eyes Barcelona youngster
- Saudi club Al-Hilal have reportedly submitted an offer for 19-year-old forward, Vitor Roque
- The club is open to his sale, but it’s on the player and his team to decide on his immediate future
By Rohan Borges
Barcelona youngster Vitor Roque could potentially be on his way out of Camp Nou, at least temporarily ending his unfortunate stint with the Spanish giants.
Per Fabrizio Romano, Saudi Pro League Champions Al-Hilal have approached Barca with an offer for the promising young attacker.
🚨🔵 Al Hilal have approached Barça for Vitor Roque, as Saudi media report — he’s on club shortlist for this summer.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 25, 2024
Vitor Roque and his camp have to decide what they want to do as Barcelona could be open to selling Roque.
It could be key step for FFP but depends on Vitor. pic.twitter.com/EF0iJnA2UP
Roque enjoyed a tremendous 2022/23 season for Brazilian side Athletico Paranaense, registering 28 goals and 11 assists in 81 appearances for the club. His incredible campaign caught the attention of Barcelona’s scouts, and the club would eventually agree sign the 19-year-old on a €30M transfer fee.
Despite Roque’s obvious potential, and outcries from supporters on his behalf, previous manager Xavi Hernandez did not view Roque as a significant component of the squad. From his arrival in January, Roque only started in two of his 14 total appearances for the club, unable to earn the trust of the coaching staff.
Despite the managerial shift from Xavi to German coach Hansi Flick, Roque’s position in the attacking hierarchy hasn’t seemed to change much at all. Robert Lewandowski remains Barca’s primary striker, and reports out of camp suggest that Hansi Flick trusts Ferran Torres and his ‘nose for the goal’ to serve as back-up to the Polish powerhouse. While the 19-year-old Roque would reportedly prefer to remain in Europe, there’s no guaranteeing a consistent role in the Catalan capital.
A Saudi move could be mutually beneficial; allowing Roque the room to flourish in the starting role that he deserves, while granting Barcelona flexibility to improve their standing with UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations. Blaugrana have not been shy about their lofty goals for the summer, but their current financial situation has been burdensome for the club as they navigate the transfer window.
The sale of Vitor Roque would help to relieve some of the pressure on sporting director Deco and president Joan Laporta, giving them a bit more freedom to pursue their most coveted targets Nico Williams and Dani Olmo.
It’s unclear whether Barcelona would prefer a loan deal for Vitor Roque instead of a permanent transfer, but the player and his agents will have a substantial influence on the outcome of this ongoing standoff.