Barcelona are willing to loan out centre-forward Vitor Roque for the next season and according to Graeme Bailey, Chelsea, Spurs and Manchester United have all been informed about the forward’s availability.
Vitor has struggled for game time since his £52 million move to the Camp Nou and since January, he’s started in only 2 La Liga games. The youngster is ready to remain in Spain and fight for his place but his agent has made it clear that if Barcelona do decide to loan him out then Roque will opt for a permanent exit in the summer.
His agent Andre Cury has told TBR: “We don’t want a loan. If the club decides he can’t stay, he’ll be sold.
“There are many teams interested in Vitor Roque. If the club doesn’t give Vitor space, we’ll have to look at a solution. Either he stays or he leaves in a transfer, not a loan.
“If he goes to another team that doesn’t own him, it’s very dangerous for the boy’s career. The best thing would be to stay at Barca, but if he can’t stay we will work for a transfer.”
Will Vitor Roque really push for a permanent exit to the Premier League?
The three clubs that have been offered Roque’s loan services had all tried to sign him up before Barcelona brought him on board in January and if he is available for a permanent sale then these three will definitely go after him once again.
However, if the 19-year-old is leaving Barcelona after just half a season then he will want to join a team where he can get guaranteed game time.
Both Chelsea and Spurs will look to sign a top striker in the summer while Manchester United are scouting for a backup who can support Rasmus Hojlund so none of them will be able to offer regular starts to Vitor Roque next season.
Vitor is one for the future and if he is really willing to sacrifice his Barcelona career and move out for game time then the other Premier League suitors like West Ham, Brighton and Aston Villa will be far better options for him.
These three clubs are below the pecking order after Spurs, Man United and Chelsea but all of them can offer Vitor Roque a chance to shine next season. Back in Brazil, he had scored 28 goals in 81 appearances for Athletico Paranaense before moving to Spain and even though the English top division is a totally different ballgame, Vitor has all the attributes to become a star player even in a physical league like the Premier League.
However, if the youngster and his manager do push for an exit then Barcelona will quote a massive price for the youngster because they paid a hell lot of money for him in January. His contract with the Catalans expires in 2031 so Barca can ask for an absurd amount of money.
The youngster’s contract reportedly has a €500 million buyout clause which is obviously untouchable and we think even a permanent sale in the summer is not going to happen – not at least in this upcoming window. It seems like his agent has made these comments just to shake up the Barca management and in the end, Vitor Roque will either have to be content with a place on the bench or he will have to move out on loan.
