The 'almost' signing of Vítor Roque that could have ruined everything

Vítor Roque has been one of the standout figures in the return of LaLiga after the international break. The young Brazilian forward has shown an increasingly complete style of play under the guidance of Manuel Pellegrini, and his performance has begun to earn him the status of an idol among the Real Betis fans. Dubbed "Tigrinho," Roque not only scored the second goal in the victory against Leganés, but also put on a stellar performance at the Benito Villamarín, helping Betis secure their first win of the season. However, his story could have been very different.

The summer of 2023 was pivotal for Vítor Roque. FC Barcelona acquired the Brazilian forward on July 12 when he was just 18 years old. The Catalan club paid 30 million euros plus 31 million in variables and inserted a release clause of 500 million euros in his contract, securing him until 2030/31. Nevertheless, even though Roque had been signed, his arrival in Barcelona was postponed until this summer.

Barça demanded 40 million for Vítor Roque

After a brilliant season at Athletico Paranaense, where he scored 21 goals and provided 8 assists in 45 matches, Roque was gearing up to make the leap to European football. However, following initial training sessions with Barcelona, the forward, aware of the competition with Robert Lewandowski, decided that joining another club in Spain would be best for his adaptation.

Despite interest from several European teams such as Fiorentina and Porto, Barcelona's financial demands, asking for 40 million euros, deterred potential buyers. Fiorentina, in particular, dismissed the signing and opted for Moise Kean for 13 million euros.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El "casi" fichaje de Vítor Roque que pudo arruinarlo todo