Vitor Roque, who is on loan from Barcelona to Real Betis, is set to join Palmeiras. It would be a costly deal for the Brazilian club, which would make room for Inigo Martinez at Barcelona.
The transfer window in Brazil is still open until Friday, and according to Spanish media reports, a big transfer is in the offing. Palmeiras want to bring Vitor Roque back home and are apparently willing to pay a whopping €25.5 million plus bonuses to do so. The club from Sao Paulo and Barcelona have already reached an agreement.
The sale of Vitor Roque would enable cash-strapped Barcelona to extend the expiring contract with Inigo Martinez. Due to the Financial Fair Play rules, it has been a waiting game so far, although the player and club have long since agreed. What was still missing, however, was the leeway in Barcelona’s payroll; with the deal, registering the defender would be within reach.
The 33-year-old plays a more important role for the Catalans under Hansi Flick than he did for his predecessor Xavi. On Tuesday, he scored in the 4-4 draw in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg against Atletico. Inigo Martinez is, alongside Robert Lewandowski (36), the only over-30 outfield player at Barcelona in a squad full of young talent.
Vitor Roque is also only 19 years old and actually got off to a dream start at Barcelona after joining the Catalans in January 2024 for €30 million. The attacker, who signed a contract until 2031, scored twice in his first five brief appearances, but he was never to get beyond the status of a substitute.
In the summer of 2024, the Brazilian was loaned out to Real Betis, and so far he has scored four goals and provided two assists in his 22 league appearances. He has only come on as a substitute in the last four games, and his last league goal came in mid-December.
Palmeiras in talks with Betis
Palmeiras must now come to an agreement with Betis, the club from Seville wants financial compensation in addition to significant savings on the player’s salary. Barcelona themselves are not willing to pay money for his departure, but are open to the idea of waiving part of their share of a future resale of Abde. The defender had joined Betis from Barcelona in September 2023.
