BARCELONA
When will Vitor Roque join Barcelona?
Barcelona sporting director Deco has travelled to Brazil to visit Vitor Roque in person.
Vitor Roque will soon meet his future Barcelona team-mates and the city where he hopes to be a success. According to his agent, André Cury, on SER Catalunya’s Qué t’hi jugues show, the Brazilian striker plans to arrive in Barcelona on December 5, as soon as the Brazilian league comes to an end.
The winter transfer window does not open until January 2, 2024, and the club does not yet know if they are going to be able to register the talented forward. In order to do so, they need to continue to reduce the wage bill at the club, whose financial problems have been well documented.
Last week, Barcelona sporting director Deco travelled to Brazil during the international break to visit Vitor Roque in person, who is in the process of recovering from a right ankle ligament injury. Deco explained to the player how the process of bringing him in during the winter transfer window is currently going. That option depends on Barça having the finances to bring forward his signing, which is expected to take place in June 2024.
Head coach Xavi - more forceful than Deco on the matter - recently explained in a press conference that he would be counting on the young forward.
Joining Barcelona until 2031
Vitor Roque, who has signed a contract with the Blaugrana until June 2031, would also prefer to bring his move forward in order to avoid risking the transfer due to injury. His current injury, according to his agent, means less time out than initially expected. When he initially suffered the blow, there was talk of an option to undergo surgery, however, he could be back in action as early as mid-November.
Cury added that if Barcelona cannot register Roque in January, “the best thing would be for him to finish the season playing for Athletico Paranaense”.