The formula Barcelona are studying to sign Brazilian striker Vitor Roque
The Ath. Paranaense forward could move to Camp Nou this summer if the conditions are right
The signing of Vitor Roque has not progressed in recent weeks... which is not absolutely normal, as the key to this operation lies in how to fit it within the Financial Fair Play rules that LaLiga president Javier Tebas imposes on Barcelona.
At the moment, the club is studying what possible formulas exist to make possible the incorporation of the Ath. Paranaense centre-forward, who has passed all the sporting filters and who, as he himself revealed in an exclusive interview with SPORT, would be delighted to come to Camp Nou to learn under the tutelage of Robert Lewandowski.
One of the great competitive advantages of this signing is that the fee for 'Tigrinho' -- as the star striker of the recent South American U-20 Championship is also known .. would not initially represent a large investment for Barcelona, which is fundamental considering that, in the summer, they will have to continue to reduce their spending and wage bill.
The 18-year-old and his camp, led by André Cury (the former Barça executive in Brazil for a decade), will help with his salary to begin with.
PAYMENT METHODS
The key to the deal, however, lies in the value of the transaction and the payment system. The 'Furacao' have priced their rising star at €30 million, plus €5m in variables, a value similar to that paid by Real Madrid in December for Endrick, the 16-year-old 'menino podrígio' of Palmeiras who will move to Spain in the summer of 2024.
Barcelona have moved well and fast for Roque, taking the lead. They spoke with with Ath. Paranaense. Deco (external advisor to Joan Laporta) communicated to his former Brazil coach, Luiz Felipe Scolari, who is now the technical director at Ath. Paranaense, the Catalan club's interest in the 'rookie' sensation of the last Copa Libertadores.
The negotiating climate is good. The Curitiba club, who have already stated in public that Roque will leave in the next transfer window, know that Barça want him and that he wants to go to Barcelona.
Barça, with Mateu Alemany and Jordi Cruyff at the helm, will not make a move until they have a better idea of the Fair Play Financial conditions they will have to face in the summer market.
This Tuesday, Joan Laporta, who acknowledged that the club is looking for a No.9, stated that there will need to be departures at the end of the season... which obviously will not be defined now at the key moment of the campaign when Xavi's team has a chance to achieve a domestic trouble.
With a more defined panorama of departures, it will be then that Barça, always going hand in hand with Roque, his family and his camp, will trace the path to follow and what formulas can be executed... and, of course, that the 'Furacao' ends up accepting because they are one of the most difficult Brazilian clubs to crack in the transfer market.
