Barcelona set to beat Arsenal to transfer of €40m Brazilian wonderkid

Jacque Talbot

• 7 Mar 2023 11:55 CST
• 3 min read

Barcelona have accelerated talks with Atletico Paranaense in recent days over a deal for wonderkid Vitor Roque.

The striker is also liked by Arsenal but now Joan Laporta has pushed forward with a move, reports Revelo.

The 18-year-old has entered talks with Barca and meetings have reached a second stage. It is thought that he could come in and be the understudy of Robert Lewandowski, who will turn 35 in August.

The La Liga side are pushing for the move and will look to pay €40 million including potential add-ons that are yet to be determined.

It could be that a loan with an option to buy could be a suitable solution, owing to Barcelona’s financial issues that are well documented.

Things won’t take place until next month when Barcelona have more of an idea of what’s ahead of them in terms of departures among their squad.

A number of players at Barcelona are entering the last or penultimate years of their contracts.

They must reduce some €200m of their wage bill to abide by La Liga rules.

Arsenal interest in Roque

Roque is now eligible to move to Europe in the summer transfer window. Indeed, Arsenal have also been linked, along with Barcelona, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, and Newcastle.

But the Gunners have had their sporting director Edu approach the player’s representatives over a move to north London.

Known as ‘Tigrinho’ in Brazil, Roque has drawn comparisons made between him and his country’s legend Ronaldo.

Former Portugal and Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari, who is now technical director for Paranaense, has gone on record to say that the teenager will leave the club.

He said: "Vitor will probably be sold.

"He's 17 years old and has a lot to learn on the pitch. But he's been playing in the Campeonato Brasileiro and the Copa Libertadores since he was 16."