Barcelona continue their quest of negotiating with talents they believe are viable recruitments for their upcoming 2023/2024 footballing season. A primary target of theirs has been 18-year-old Brazilian gem, Vitor Roque.
The Athletico Paranaense player has had heads turning throughout this current season, but it has been his performances across the ranks of the Brazilian national team such as the under-20s, with whom he finished as the top scorer of this year’s U-20 South American championship, that has peaked the interest of major European clubs.
According to recent reports by Mundo Deportivo, the player’s representative and FC Barcelona are set to meet at the end of this week to have a crucial discussion regarding the current desire of the player, his entourage, and the possible financial numbers involved to go ahead with this operation.
These reports come at a time when Barcelona are currently struggling with limiting their active wage bill and are assessing the possibilities of a certain few departures. The likes of Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres are popular names among the plethora of forwards that Barcelona currently possess who are considered as potential sales.
Moreover, recent revelations and proceedings showcase that Pierre Emerick Aubameyang has also emerged as a potential alternative to Vitor Roque should the negotiations and demands of the Brazilian’s transfer prove too complicated for Barcelona. The Gabonese striker from Chelsea would in comparison be a free transfer and allows the Catalans to bring in a player who is proven under Xavi and in the Blaugrana colors.
The primary priority would obviously remain the signing of Roque. Given his tender age and tremendous displays of talent already, he would be a strategic, long-term signing that would benefit Barcelona for years to come. Vitor Roque also just recently made his debut for the Brazilian national team in a friendly game against Morocco, becoming the second youngest player in his nation’s history to do so. This upcoming meeting could prove vital to these plans for the future that Barcelona may have currently assessed.