90min

Barcelona make decision on Vitor Roque's future

  • Barcelona haven't registered Vitor Roque in La Liga squad
  • Striker played a fringe role after €30m January arrival
  • An escape route to Sporting CP is currently a possibility

By Jamie Spencer

Vitor Roque has been pushed to the fringes at Barcelona
Vitor Roque has been pushed to the fringes at Barcelona / Quality Sport Images/GettyImages
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Barcelona striker Vitor Roque looks as though he will have to leave the club in the remainder of the summer transfer window if he is to play any first-team football in 2024/25. But a potential move to Portugal with Sporting CP could at least be on the cards.

Roque arrived from Athletico Paranaense in January in a deal that started at €30m and was valued at €61m with add-ons. But he was afforded just 353 minutes across 16 appearances. His future has been in doubt ever since the end of last season and hasn’t improved with a change of coach.

The 19-year-old was nowhere to be seen as Barcelona opened their new La Liga campaign with a 2-1 win over Valencia on Saturday. Having lost his number 19 shirt to Lamine Yamal, he hasn't been assigned another and therefore doesn't have a place in the first-team squad.

AS has reported Barca "didn't even consider" registering Roque for La Liga.

Pau Cubarsi
Barcelona have prioritised players like Pau Cubarsi / Quality Sport Images/GettyImages

But Pau Cubarsi, Pablo Torre, Pau Victor and Marc Casado have all been promoted to the senior side, each assigned shirt numbers between 1 and 25, as per La Liga rules.

Ansu Fati has also retained his place, despite not playing for the club for a year and again struggling with injuries during an unsuccessful loan at Brighton & Hove Albion. Eric Garcia is also back in the fold since his loan at regional neighbours Girona last season.

Dani Olmo is yet to be registered for La Liga but Barcelona are believed to be working towards the finances to make space for the Euro 2024 winner, who has already been handed the number 20 shirt. Even if there was capital to register Roque, there are no available first-team shirt numbers. The 25 jersey is still free but is solely reserved for goalkeepers in Spanish football.

Barca could actually recoup their initial outlay on Roque if talks with Sporting CP progress. Fabrizio Romano writes that things are "advancing" over a package worth €30m plus add-ons. But there is not believed to be anything with Porto, even after selling Evanilson to Bournemouth.

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