Barcelona have recentlyfreed up around €9 millionin Financial Fair Play margin by sanctioning the sale of Franck Kessie.
They are expected to balance the books further by releasing Ousmane Dembele to Paris Saint-Germain.
In the midst of such sales, many expectBarcelonato register their new signings. This led to raised hopes ofthe club being able to register Vitor Roquethis summer.
No chance of Roque joining this summer
Speaking toFabrizio Romano, Athletico Paranaense CEO Alexandre Mattos has confirmed that Vitor Roque won’t be joiningBarcelonathis summer.
“There’s no chance for Vitor Roque to leave and joinBarçain August,”Mattos said.”He will leave in January, that was the pact withBarçaand it will be respected.”
Mattos’ comments back up a ɾєρօɾτ earlier this month, which claimed that Athletico PR want to keep hold of Vitor in order to qualify for Copa Libertadores.
“We need him for the final 20 games and to qualify for Copa Libertadores 2024,”Mattos added.
Big blow for Barcelona?
Vitor has racked up eight goals in just 17 games in the 2023 edition of Brazilian Serie A so far. He also netted four goals in Copa Libertadores 2023, though the club were knocked out in the last 16 stage.
The Brazilian not joiningBarcelonathis summer, therefore, could indeed prove to be a big blow for the club.
That said, the Catalans are trying to bring in new attackers from the market. They have targeted a few exciting options including Joao Felix and Bernardo Silva.
The club have alsoyet to rule out the return of Neymar, whose potential addition can helpBarçareplenish their strikeforce going into the new season.
