Barça seal agreement in principle for Athletico Paranaense striker Vitor Roque
The Brazilian youngster will move to Catalonia when the club can register him
Barça and Athletic Paranaense have reached an agreement in principle for the transfer of Vitor Roque, the best No.9 in South American football. As SPORT has been able to confirm, the meeting that took place in the Blaugrana offices at the Citutat Esportiva this week has yielded practically definitive results. The Catalan club have tied down the 18-year-old centre-forward, who is aiming to become a star.
There is already a definitive price for the transfer: Barcelona will pay 35 million euros plus 10 million euros in variables, divided across three years. And the young striker will sign for five seasons, which is the maximum period allowed by FIFA at his age, until 30 June 2028.
Still to be finalised are the details between Vitor Roque and Barça regarding his salary, which will be adapted to the new financial reality of the club presided over by Joan Laporta. The striker -- and his family and professional entourage -- have done their utmost to reach a successful conclusion.
The agreement between clubs will be made public in the coming weeks. And, as SPORT had already reported, Vitor Roque will join Xavi Hernandez's squad this summer.
As of today, it is practically impossible to know if 'Tigrinho' will be able to participate in the tour that Barça will carry out in the United States from 19 to 30 July.
Vitor Roque will land in the Catalan capital when there is room in the Financial Fair Play to be registered. In the meantime, he will continue with his commitments at Ath. Paranaense, who are still alive on three fronts: the Brasileirao, the Copa do Brasil -- where they have a tough quarter-final against Flamengo -- and the Copa Libertadores.
The understanding between the clubs materialised in the meeting held by the sporting leadership of the club with Deco at the head, who has accelerated negotiations to avoid any surprises, the CEO of Ath. Paranaense, Alexandre Mattos and the player's agent, André Cury, who has been key in the operation because he has defused all offers from the Premier League (i.e. Chelsea and Arsenal) to force the 'Furacao' to reach an agreement with Barça.
In principle, no further meetings between all parties are planned. With the work already done, Alexandre Mattos will no longer delay his presence in Barcelona and this Monday he will leave for Curitiba. The executive needs to find a new coach for Ath. Paranaense immediately after the dismissal of Paulo Turra.
