Vitor Roque wants to join Barcelona this summer, but arrival complicated – report

With Ousmane Dembele’s departure to Paris Saint-Germain almost certain, Barcelona are on the lookout to acquire a replacement and we have reported before that a certain Vitor Roque could join the team earlier than he was scheduled.

Barcelona signed Roque last month but claimed that his arrival would take place in 2024, but with Dembele set to leave, there could be room for the 18-year-old to join now.

As it turns out, however, Joaquim Piera writes for SPORT that the possibility of the aforementioned actually happening is complicated, especially from Athletico Paranaense’s end.

What’s the problem?

The journalist writes that Roque’s premature arrival at Barcelona is certainly not dependent on what’s going on at the club.

From Athletico Paranaense’s point of view, they would not allow the young forward to leave this summer mostly because they are in the Copa Libertadores championship.

So even if the player wants to join Barcelona this summer, he will have to sit with his current team to negotiate and it is expected that doing the same will certainly not be easy.

As far as Barcelona are concerned, they have not initiated anything as of today. In fact, they have not contacted anyone about Roque’s potential arrival in the summer.

What does the player want?

Journalist Javi Miguel writes that the player wants to join Barcelona this summer. For that, the Barça delegates are only waiting for the Copa Libertadores qualifiers.

If Athletico are eliminated before August 31, Roque will be incorporated immediately. 

According to the reporter, Barcelona are of the idea that the gap Dembele would leave this summer can be covered with Roque despite the fact that the youngster is not really a like-to-like replacement for the Frenchman.

In all fairness, though, Roque’s arrival this summer is extremely complicated as even Barcelona will have to decide what to do with the money they will get from Dembele’s sale. 

The growing idea is to invest it in a right-back, potentially Joao Cancelo. So if he arrives, Barcelona will have to see if they leave a margin in the wage bill to sign up Roque.