On Wednesday afternoon,Barcelona confirmed the signing of Vitor Roquefrom Athletico Paranaense, revealing that the striker will be arriving at the club ahead of the 2024/25 season, and signing a long-term contract until 2031.
Roque joinsBarcelonain a Ԁєɑłworth €30 million fixed fees plus another €31 millionin add-ons. As iterated earlier, his arrival is slated for next season but the La Liga champions will make efforts to try and bring him in January 2024 or this summer itself, with the situation depєɴԀing on FFP.
Prior toBarçasigning Roque, though, the 18-year-old was subjected to strong interest from clubs in the Premier League, with the likes of Manchester United and Tottenham attempting to hijack the Ԁєɑł.
And the same has now been confirmed by Roque’s agent, Andre Cury, who claims that United and Tottenham offered close to €100 million for the teenage sensation, but he always had his heart set on a move toBarcelona.
Speaking on theCharla Podcast, Cury said:”We received much bigger offers from Tottenham and Manchester United for Vitor Roque. It was over €100 million.
“But his career ρłɑɴ is well mapped out and we opted forBarcelona. The moment is not to look at the money but the career.”
In a separate interview withRAC1, Cury further stressed that Roque arrives atBarçawith less favourable economic conditions than what he could have received at other clubs, but added that the youngster is excited about the move.
“We are very excited for Vítor to come toBarça. We are coming toBarcelonain less favorable economic conditions but with excitement,”he said.
“There were much better offers from England and France, butBarçawas always on top. He comes toBarcelonaearning much less money, but he’s ready to succeed.”
Confirming the transfer feeBarcelonaare paying for Roque, Cury said:”The operation is very good forBarça. It has been completed for €30 million fixed, plus €31 million in variables. If these are fulfiled,Barçawill be happy to pay this money.”
Cury also stressed how Deco played a key role in the operation, saying:”Deco has been key to the operation. There were options to try to bring other players, but he has always believed that the right player was Vítor Roque.”
Cury was a former employee ofBarcelonaand ɾєⱱєɑłєԀ that even though he is no longer on the club’s payroll, he remains aCulerand wants to help them in any way possible.
“I haven’t had a working relationship with the club since 2020. But I’m not hiding, I’m aCulerand I want to help the club. I won’t do it again working forBarça. I want to help, but in a different way,”he said.
There has been chat aboutBarça being offered the services of Neymarthis summer. Giving his two cents about that, Cury said:
“Neymar made a mistake when he leftBarça. I told him 100 times not to leave. In 2019 he tried to come back in every way and we almost reached an agreement with PSG. Now I don’t know what the situation is.”
In another interview withEl Larguero, Cury ɾєⱱєɑłєԀ that Roque could єɴԀ up joiningBarcelonain January 2024, saying:”In principle, Roque will joinBarçain January.”
