- 7 hours ago
Vitor Roque’s agent demands permanent move as Man Utd line up deal
Robin Bairner
- 6 May 2024 08:00 BST
- 4 min read
Barcelona’s Vitor Roque crisis continues to build, with Andre Cury, the agent of the teenage striker, letting rip publicly against the Catalan club as well as head coach Xavi.
The 19-year-old joined the Blaugrana on a permanent basis ahead of schedule in January from Athletico Paranaense. A €40 million move was supposed to herald the youngster’s introduction to the big time, yet he has been sparingly used since arriving at the Camp Nou club.
After playing just 310 minutes of football across 13 appearances in four months at the club, he is already growing frustrated. He has notably been ignored in key matches, overlooked entirely in the Champions League, while he also failed to play a minute in the recent Clasico or indeed the weekend’s 4-2 loss against Girona.
READ MORE: Is it already time for Vitor Roque to quit Barcelona for Man Utd?
Current ETV
Vitor Roque
F (C)
Barcelona
Vitor Roque
F (C)
Barcelona
ETV Range
€27.5M - €45.8M
Transfer rumours are building around the once-capped Brazil international, with Napoli, Lyon and Nice positioning themselves for a loan move in the summer.
In addition, Manchester United are among the teams monitoring the teenager’s situation. Indeed, Barca had to work hard to beat out the Red Devils to sign the sensation in the first place.
And now Cury has threatened Xavi and the Catalan club with a swift departure should the situation fail to reach a suitable resolution.
READ MORE: Barcelona agree to sell error-prone star to Man Utd
What did Vitor Roque’s agent say?
Speaking to radio station RAC1, the agent laid out his ultimatum to Barcelona.
“Vitor will not leave on loan. If he leaves, it will be on permanent transfer,” he said.
“No one understands why Xavi doesn't play him and doesn't even speak to Vitor. This is not right. We will discuss his future with Barca soon.”
Man Utd will be watching on keenly. The Red Devils need a new centre-forward, and while Vitor Roque would not display Rasmus Hojlund as their top option in that area, he would surely be granted more opportunities to impress at Old Trafford than he has been given in Barcelona.
READ MORE: Latest Barcelona transfer rumours
Under contract until 2031, Vitor Roque will have little say in his future, however.
Nevertheless, the current situation is only causing unrest in the club.
While Xavi’s U-turn has been a decision broadly celebrated in Barcelona circles, that is a sentiment that will not have been shared in the Vitor Roque camp, with the young forward deeply unhappy with the situation he finds himself in.
