Barcelona signed Brazilian teenager Vitor Roque to huge fanfare with the player expected to be the club’s response to Real Madrid signing Endrick. The South American duo were battling it out for the title of Selecao’s next big thing and it was expected to become a Clasico rivalry.
When the Spanish club advanced Roque’s arrival by six months following Gavi’s injury, the 19-year-old was expected to play a key role in Xavi Hernandez’s team last season. The reality could not have been more different.
Very quickly, the Spanish tactician realized that Roque was not at the level required to play for Barcelona. His minutes kept dwindling as the season came to an end with the Brazilian often finishing games as an unused substitute even when the team needed a goal.
The departure of Xavi and the arrival of Hansi Flick was expected to hand Roque a new lease of life in Barcelona but that doesn’t look to be happening. New signing Pau Victor has already superseded him in the pecking order based on his pre-season performances.
Months after signing him, the Catalan club has already decided to let Roque leave with interest from Sporting CP. Two Premier League clubs – AFC Bournemouth and Everton have also asked Barcelona about the teenager.
Now, as per SPORT, Real Betis sporting director Manu Fajardo has traveled to Barcelona to try and convince the 19-year-old forward to join them on loan for the season. The La Liga club also plans to meet with Borussia Dortmund’s Youssoufa Moukoko who is their top priority for the summer.
The report adds that Barcelona are keen on selling to Sporting CP who would sign him on a permanent deal and help them recoup the initial amount they spent on him. The player, however, would prefer to stay in the Spanish league.
Deco & co. are not in favor of the idea of entertaining Betis’ interest as they can only sign him on loan. Barcelona are worried that if Roque doesn’t do well on loan, his valuation will further drop, compounding their losses.
The key aspect here is that the two clubs have a good relationship following the Chadi Riad deal last summer. It remains to be seen if Betis can convince Barcelona to let Roque leave on loan this season.
Fans are quite on the fence with respect to Roque. He is talented but sending him out on loan is a huge gamble. With such financial difficulty, if a club is making an offer to sign him permanently, we must take it and move on. It hasn’t worked out for the two parties and it’s best to rip the bandaid and let the wound heal.
