December 04, (THEWILL) – Barcelona Sporting Director Deco has confirmed the club will complete the signing of striker Vitor Roque from Athletico Paranaense in the January transfer window. This move comes as the Spanish giants look to strengthen their attacking options following an injury to teenage star Gavi.
The 17-year-old midfielder suffered a serious knee injury whilst on international duty with Spain and will miss the remainder of the 2023/2024 season as he recovers. With Gavi ruled out for the foreseeable future, Barcelona have decided to bring forward the signing of Roque from his original arrival date to help soften the blow of losing such an important player.
Deco explained: “Vitor is a player we had already signed but was scheduled to join us either in January or June. However, with Gavi facing a long spell on the sidelines, we felt it was best to accelerate Roque’s transfer.” The Barcelona Director believes the 18-year-old Brazilian forward’s ability to find space between the lines and eye for goal will add extra competition and depth to their squad.
Roque bade farewell to Athletico Paranaense at the weekend after featuring in his final match for the Brazilian club. He acknowledged the support of the fans but stressed a move to Europe with Barcelona is a “dream.” The youngster will compete with star striker Robert Lewandowski for minutes upon his January move as he looks to prove himself at one of football’s biggest clubs.
Deco highlighted that while Lewandowski demands the utmost respect, manager Xavi Hernandez simply wants the “best version” of the Polish frontman. Only time will tell if Roque can break into the first team or if he is one for Barcelona’s future. However, his signing is a sign the Catalan giants are optimising their resources and planning for both the present and future.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
