Vitor Roque transfer fee likely to rise to €55m

Barcelona are set to see Vitor Roque's transfer fee rise to at least €55m (£47m), with the majority of agreed add-ons linked to easily achievable appearance milestones.

The Catalans secured a deal with Brazilian club Athletico Paranaense last summer that was originally expected to result in Roque moving to Spain in July 2024 for accounting reasons. But the extra capital needed to register the teenager was found in time to bring him to Europe in January.

Barca agreed €30m in guaranteed payments for Roque, with the remaining €31m in add-ons. A report from Mundo Deportivo has now revealed the breakdown of the fee and extras, making it highly probably that the Catalans will be liable to pay most of it by 2029.

So far, Roque has only cost Barca €5m. But the club will need to pay another €5m in the summer and again every six months until reaching the initial €30m sub-total. As far as add-ons are concern, Roque will cost another €5m for each season that he plays in more than half of Barca's games, up to a value of €25m. Considering the level of investment and his apparent potential, that seems a given unless something goes disastrously wrong or the youngster suffers with injuries.

Hitting those appearances targets will take the running total value of the transfer to €55m.

The final add-ons are a little more difficult to hit. Barca would be liable to pay €5m if Roque is a top three finisher in FIFA's Best Men's Player award, and €1m if the striker wins the Ballon d'Or.

Roque has already starting to prove his worth in a difficult season for Barca, scoring the winner in a crucial recent La Liga victory over Osasuna. He then had a whirlwind day last time out against Alaves, coming on to score again but also collecting two yellow cards in just 13 minutes to get sent off.

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