With the official confirmation pending, Vitor Roque will become a player for Palmeiras. The 19-year-old Brazilian striker, who had a brief stint at FC Barcelona (16 appearances, two goals) and Real Betis (33 matches, seven goals, and two assists), will return to his native country, Brazil, where he was once considered one of the great promises of South American football.
Now 'Tigrinho' will don the jersey of 'Verdão', a team that, as reported by journalist Fabrizio Romano, will pay €25 million plus five in variables to acquire 80% of the economic rights of the Timóteo native. This acquisition stands out as one of the major signings of the winter market for Abel Ferreira's team, where they have also welcomed Paulinho (Atlético Mineiro), Facundo Torres (Orlando City), Emiliano Martínez (Midtjylland), and Micael (Houston).
Similarly, as reported by 'SPORT', it is expected that the forward will also experience a significant improvement in his salary. During his time in European football, he was receiving a total of 1.7 million euros net per season. With this move to Palmeiras, one of the financially strongest clubs in Brazil and South America, it is anticipated that his earnings will now be around 2.5 'kilos' per campaign, positioning him as one of the highest-paid players on the team.
The Betis Intervention: Key to Unlocking 'Tigrinho's' Sale to Palmeiras
In this regard, the transaction has apparently been delayed more than expected, first due to a minor issue with LaLiga, which was resolved by consulting FIFA and subsequently with approval from the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). Secondly, the operation has apparently been slowed down by the role played by Real Betis.
It should be noted that the former Athletico Paranaense player was listed as a player for the Andalusian team until June 30 of this year, after being loaned by FC Barcelona at the beginning of the 2024-25 season. Given this situation, the Catalan team, which maintains good relations with the Betis side, had to find compensation that was not solely financial, as they lose their second-highest scorer of the season (seven goals) without the option to reinforce, as the winter transfer market in Spain closed on February 3.
According to 'Mundo Deportivo', Vitor Roque is expected to travel to Brazil this Friday morning and once he is on Brazilian soil, he will sign a contract that will bind him to Palmeiras for five seasons, until 2030. Likewise, this transaction will be very positive for FC Barcelona, as they will recover a good amount of money for a player who, based on what has been seen, turned out to be a misguided investment. This payment will have a positive impact as the 1:1 rule is in effect, allowing for registrations, renewals, and possibly exploring the idea of another signing to strengthen the squad.
How Will FC Barcelona Ultimately Compensate the Andalusian Club?
It is said that the compensation that Real Betis will receive is related to two aspects: firstly, an increase in the percentage of economic rights of Ez Abde, currently at 50-50, which would increase by an additional 30%, leaving the Andalusians with 80% ownership of the Moroccan forward, while FC Barcelona would retain only 20% of the player's economic rights. Additionally, it is expected that Palmeiras will assume part of Vitor Roque's wage.
In this regard, it is important to highlight the option of granting priority to the Andalusian team in acquiring a player on loan from the Catalan side for the upcoming season. The player of interest is the 23-year-old Barcelona forward, Pau Víctor, who was intended to be brought in on loan with an option to buy. This possibility may not have pleased FC Barcelona, although the team did not rule out a future negotiation for the player's loan.