Although there were no changes in the FC Barcelona squad in the last winter transfer window, this is not expected to be the case in the summer, when the Blaugranes are expected to oversee several additions and exits.
One of the positions that the Catalans are looking to reinforce is that of the center-forward, where Robert Lewandowski has been the team’s fixed starter for the last three seasons.
The Pole is also playing at a very high level this season, but his advanced age of 36 years means Barcelona will have to look for a replacement sooner or later.
For this purpose, the Blaugrana side has been linked with several young strikers to be their long-term forwards, including the likes of Viktor Gyokeres and Jonathan David.
Now, according to Fichajes, another name that has entered this list is the 18-year-old Brazilian forward, Rayan Vitor Simplício Rocha, who is currently playing with Vasco da Gama in his native country.
In addition to the talent he has shown, another factor that makes him quite appealing for the Blaugranes is his contractual situation, as his current contract expires at the end of this year.
The youngster has attracted interest from FC Barcelona, particularly after his performances with the Brazil team in the South American U-20 Championship, where he helped his team make way for the World Cup of this category.
With Vasco da Gama, he has 41 first-team appearances, in which he scored 3 goals and provided 1 assist. While these figures are not outstanding in any way, his projection and ability to disrupt defenses has allowed him to raise the interest of several European teams, including Barcelona.
Furthermore, his versatility is also one of the aspects that make him such an attractive target for the Blaugranes, as he can play both as a right winger and as a center-forward.
New Vitor Roque? Looks like another Brazilian fraud.