Yesterday, FC Barcelona saw their salary limit for the upcoming winter window decrease significantly, from €649 million to €270 million. Despite making significant reductions in their wage bill since last year, the club still remains subject to a 1:1.5 wage rule with La Liga.
Barcelona have already strengthened their squad considerably over the summer transfer window. Thus, they were not expected to make any big signings in the winter anyway. Still, this reduction in the wage bill can have an impact on Barcelona’s plans regarding one specific player.
Doubts about Roque’s arrival
This player in question is the Brazilian Vitor Roque, whom Barcelona have already bought over the summer for €30 million, while another €31 million is payable in variables. However, the player did not arrive in the summer and is expected to join his new club in January at the earliest.
The Brazilian starlet has been in great form since the last season, and there are great hopes already tied with him at the Catalan capital. However, the reduction in the salary limit now raises doubts on whether the Catalans will be able to bring him in the coming January.
Xavi assures everything is on track
As Mundo Deportivo has reported, this subject was also raised in Xavi’s press conference before the Real Betis match, and the Barcelona head coach reassured that the management had promised him Roque in January:
“Deco told me he’s arriving in January. Right now, he’s not here. We’ll see where we are in January. It doesn’t make sense to talk about him now.”
Roque’s arrival in January is of significant importance for Barcelona as Xavi only has Lewandowski as a natural centre-forward currently in the squad. However, the Pole is already 35 years old and would need cover in the highly demanding season ahead.
Roque would also thrive in a secondary role to Lewandowski as he would get time to get incorporated at Barcelona, without having too many expectations from him in his first season in Europe.
