Barcelona are open to bidding a permanent farewell to flop striker Vitor Roque in the coming days, reports in Spain claim, with the Brazilian transfer window not yet closed.
Roque was billed as Barcelona’s answer to Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo when he arrived from Athletico Paranaense in January 2024 in a deal that had been pre-arranged.
But the teenager struggled for playing time under Xavi and moved to Real Betis on loan last August when it was apparent that situation wouldn’t change with Hansi Flick at the helm.
Roque has had considerably more game time in Betis colours, but his goal numbers – just four in 21 La Liga outings – haven’t particularly impressed and a return to South America is on the cards.
With Brazil’s transfer deadline ahead of the 2025 season coming at the end of February, SPORT notes that Barcelona are willing to sell Roque as long as an offer meets their valuation. Overall, they want a permanent transfer and not just another loan.
Palmeiras, who sold Endrick to Real Madrid last summer and will soon also lose Estevao Willian to Chelsea, are the Brazilian club in question and are first working through an agreement with Roque.
Barcelona are not expected to respond to a formal approach from Palmeiras until Roque has given his go-ahead to a proposed deal, which would also require Real Betis’ approval to cut short his existing loan. That would be in the event of an immediate transfer, with the alternative that it happens in June, meaning Roque is still then able to play in the FIFA Club World Cup for Palmeiras.
From Roque’s perspective, he has been resistant to returning to Brazil. But the package offered to him by Palmeiras is described as ‘very important’, while there is the potential for regular starts and the likelihood of becoming one of the faces of the club.
Palmeiras have been tipped to start with an opening offer of €24m, shy of Barcelona’s €27m asking price. That figure is most of the initial €30m that the Catalans paid, with add-ons that were included in that deal with Athletico Paranaense not triggered because of Roque’s lack of impact.
But Barcelona are also asking for a sell-on clause, believing that the 19-year-old is young enough to yet come good and potentially command a substantial transfer fee again in the future.
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