It’s a widely known fact that Barcelona still has difficulties operating on the transfer market, which can make it very complicated to sign a player that the club could easily afford during better times. One such operation is the one including the talented Brazilian striker, Vitor Roque.
The soon-to-be Barcelona sporting director, Deco, has very clear ideas and, above all, understands the difficulties of the club in this summer market in which it will be very difficult to incorporate some of the desired players.
Since his arrival, Deco has been working to try to close some strategic signings, but some are beyond the Catalans’ possibilities, so he will try to block the players until better times come.
There are two youngsters, though, who could be in different situations: while the Turkish Arda Güler could indeed be registered due to the size of the operation, it is practically impossible for Vitor Roque to join this year. The club is going to try until the end, but there is pessimism and that is how they have explained it to the player and his entourage.
The Vitor Roque option has not fallen, nor will it fall. Barcelona are looking to reach a full agreement with the Brazilian to block his signing in the face of interest from the Premier League as per SPORT. The Catalan club played its cards well so far, having the youngster committed and convinced despite the fact that he has many options.
In other circumstances, he would already be signed and about to travel to Barcelona, but a signing in the range of €30-35 million plus variables is materially impossible to register now unless there is some miracle and a highly valued player is sold, raising significant funds for the transfer and creating margin within the fair play confines.
From now on, the roadmap with Vitor Roque is clear. Barça’s idea is to reach an agreement with the striker and then develop the agreement in principle with Athlético Paranaense. And there will be two options: either Roque arrives this summer at the end of the market or he does so from January or from next summer.
Without a doubt, it is not the ideal scenario neither for the sports area nor for Xavi, who will not be able to enjoy a signed footballer until the future. And more so when Barça needs to add a goalscorer given the problems they had last season. The priority is no longer that Vitor Roque signs but that he does not escape in the coming weeks.
The player is determined to sign, but is also somewhat upset about staying in Brazil, at a team with very few possibilities to evolve. He knows that he is facing a great opportunity and he is uncomfortable waiting, but Barça will do everything possible to get him to come before August 31.
Then, it would be essential that either Ferrán Torres or Ansu Fati agree to leave with an important offer. And there will be pressure all summer for them to do so.
