Vitor Roque, who was on loan from FC Barcelona to Real Betis, is moving back to his native Brazil to join Palmeiras – and he’s making the cash-strapped Catalans a tidy sum in the process.
FC Barcelona and Palmeiras had already reached an agreement, and the two parties also found a solution with loan club Real Betis. And so Vitor Roque’s adventure in Spain is over again after just over a year.
Although the 19-year-old has not made a huge impact, Palmeiras will pay €25.5 million, with a further €5 million in bonuses possible. This means that Barcelona will not make a loss, especially since they will still receive a 20 percent share if the player is sold on – they are also said to have a right of first refusal in the event of an offer being made. The attacker had come from Athletico Paranaense for 30 million euros in January 2024.
Betis also let the loan go. Barcelona offered the Andalusians to waive part of the share in a future resale of Abde. The defender had moved from the Catalans to Betis in September 2023.
Vitor Roque will therefore make another attempt in his home country. After a decent start with Barcelona, scoring two goals in his first five substitute appearances, he was quickly sidelined and sent to Betis to develop further. However, he only managed four goals and two assists in his 22 league appearances there, and he has only come on as a substitute in the last four games. The 19-year-old last scored a league goal in mid-December. Nevertheless, his coach Manuel Pellegrini would have liked to have kept him. “He’s 19 years old and he’s developed,” said the Betis coach ahead of the game against Real Madrid on Saturday (6:30 p.m.).
Nutznießer Inigo Martinez
For Barcelona, the income also means that the expiring contract with Inigo Martinez can be extended, as there is now room in the salary structure again. The deal brings registration of the defender in the new season within reach.
