Xavi: “We Didn’t Intend for Vitor Roque to Come in December”

Vitor Roque has not had the expected playing time in his first season in Europe. The young Brazilian footballer joined FC Barcelona from Athletico Paranaense this January as a replacement after Gavi’s injury. However, he has only started twice in La Liga since his arrival. Journalist Gonzalo Álvarez revealed on the show ‘El Bar’ of Cadena Ser that Roque was initially offered to Espanyol.

According to Álvarez, Vitor Roque could have arrived in Barcelona earlier but with Espanyol instead. The “pericos” had the chance to sign him for 10 million euros, significantly less than the 30 million fixed plus 30 million in variables that Barcelona eventually paid. Espanyol received the proposal months before Barça finalized the transfer. However, they decided to pass on the forward: “The technical secretariat rejected his signing. I don’t know if it was because they couldn’t reach the 10 million or because they saw him as too raw,” Álvarez explained.

In the summer of 2023, FC Barcelona officially signed Vitor Roque from Athletico Paranaense. The initial plan was for him to play the entire season in Brazil and join Barcelona in the summer of 2024. But Gavi’s injury opened a spot in the squad, which Roque filled. Now, after months of limited participation, his future is uncertain. There is talk of a loan to help him adapt to European football or even a sale less than a year after his arrival, at just 19 years old.