Among those from South America currently plying their trade in the Under-20 South American Youth Football Championship, a name that has caught the eyes of many is FC Barcelona target Vitor Roque.
The 17-year-old Brazilian forward has been a sensation in the tournament thus far. Having scored 6 goals from only 5 appearances, his goal tally represents half of the Brazilian team’s total of 12. Having just scored again in their most recent game against Venezuela’s Under-20 side in a 3-0 victory for Brazil, the player shows no signs of stopping any time soon.
With 6 teams remaining in the final round of the tournament, the group stages having already been settled, only the top 4 out of this mini-league of 6 finalized teams will progress further as the selected few of South America to qualify for the upcoming Under-20 World Cup in Indonesia. This tournament in question being one that the likes of ex-Barcelona players Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero both took part in and have won.
Deemed a “predator” by the likes of SPORT, the player’s instinctive nature and organic striker’s qualities are among a plethora of traits that the player possesses. The type of goals and the nature of his timing remains a great unpolished quality that the youngster possesses.
Despite possessing a goal ratio beyond 1.0 goals per game, having scored 6 from 5 appearances, the player would statistically have had an even better tally should he have been given complete 90 minutes in a handful of games where he was only on the field for 28 minutes and 45 minutes respectively.
Reportedly eager to have Barcelona approach him, the player is willing to wait for the Catalans and is excited to be able to learn from the likes of Barca talisman Robert Lewandowski, arguably one of the greatest strikers of this generation, allowing the young Brazilian to hone his skills even further.
FC Barcelona had just recently missed out on another Brazilian prodigy named Endrick Felipe, with the young 16-year-old Brazilian ending up joining Clasico rivals in a deal worth €70 million plus variables, and will be desperately trying to ensure the signing of Vitor Roque in order to find a potential long-term heir to Lewandowski himself at the club.
