Barcelona AGREE surprise €25m transfer

Barcelona could receive a surprise €25 million cash bonus immediately after agreeing the surprise transfer of Vitor Roque to Palmeiras just a year after he arrived at the club.

Vitor Roque was regarded as one of the brightest talents in Brazilian football when he hooked up with Barcelona in January 2024 in a deal brought forward six months owing to an unusually dry spell of form from Robert Lewandowski.

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The 19-year-old was signed from Athletico Paranaense for €30 million but did not get the opportunities he feels he was promised with the Camp Nou side. He was hampered by Lewandowski rediscovering his scoring touch and quickly became unsettled. This was rapidly made public by his entourage and in the summer Barca decided to move him on to Real Betis.

With the Seville side, Vitor Roque has not enjoyed the resurgence that fellow loan star Antony has experienced.

He has again found himself a regular among the substitutes, while a return of seven goals in 31 matches across all competitions means that Betis are unlikely to hold onto him beyond the end of the season.

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Vitor Roque deal struck, one sticking point remains

Barcelona are seeking to take advantage of interest from Brazil to send him back to Palmeiras.

The Brazilian side have agreed a €25 million fee with Barca and have agreed to sell him for that price, transfer journalist Adrian Sanchez has confirmed.

This has since been confirmed by Fabrizio Romano, who says that all that is standing in the way of the deal is Real Betis giving the green light to Roque’s loan being terminated.

“Palmeiras will make new direct contact with Barcelona and Real Betis to get Vitor Roque to the club with immediate effect,” Romano claims.

“Permanent transfer proposal on the table, waiting for Betis’ decision. Barca are currently open to selling Tigrinho.”

Barcelona would certainly welcome the influx of cash that Roque’s sale would bring and the €5m loss they face on the player limits the damage on what has been a disappointing transfer all round.