Barcelona will soon head to Brazil to discuss a move with Athletico Paranaense for Vitor Roque, a target for Arsenal and Chelsea.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Vitor Roque is a target for a gamut of high-profile clubs, with Barcelona best-placed to sign him. The Blaugrana will soon meet Mario Celso Petraglia to discuss a move for the Brazilian prodigy. Arsenal and Chelsea are also keen on signing the youngster, who will cost around €40 million.
Vitor Roque has become the talk of the town since joining Athletico Paranaense from Cruzeiro. The 17-year-old was already a highly-rated striker but took the backseat as Endrick attracted all the biggest clubs. With Endrick’s future now sorted, his compatriot has become a hot property in South America.
The Brazilian prodigy has a solid tally of seven goals and three assists in 1,762 minutes of action for Athletico-PR. In addition, the youngster recently stole the show for his nation at the Under-20 South American Championships, helping his team go all the way. And Vitor Roque’s progress has captured the attention of Arsenal, Chelsea, and Barcelona.
Barcelona first showed interest in the teenage sensation early in 2022. And recent reports have claimed that they lead the race to sign him. The player also wants to join the Blaugrana when he leaves Athletico Paranaense. And Barcelona will soon meet Athletico Paranaense president Mario Celso Petraglia to discuss a deal.
As for Arsenal, the Gunners have scouted the 17-year-old extensively in the last few weeks. And they are ready to launch the offensive for the teenager after initiating contact to discuss a deal. But Arsenal will face stiff competition from not just Barcelona but also Chelsea for Vitor Roque.
Chelsea also recently contacted the concerned parties to kick-start a possible deal. And with Graham Potter sorely lacking a prolific striker in his squad, Vitor Roque can be a long-term solution. And Chelsea can afford to pay around €40 million to sign the Brazilian wonderkid.
Meanwhile, the price tag might complicate matters for Barcelona amid the never-ending financial duress. But it will be interesting to see how the upcoming meeting with Petraglia proceeds. For now, the Catalan giants are ahead of Arsenal, Chelsea, and the others in the race to sign Vitor Roque.
