With great fanfare, Vitor Roque, the new Barcelona signing, arrived in the Catalan capital and was paraded around the city. Arriving from Athletico Paranaense on a seven and a half year contract, Barcelona will pay €30 million for the 18-year-old, with additional costs of up to €31 million possible due to variables.
After landing at the airport on Wednesday morning, the Brazilian striker immediately went to work on promotion, being driven up the hill to Montjuic for a picture opportunity.
Many people anticipate that the 18-year-old will eventually replace Robert Lewandowski in the number 9 position, which is currently held by Lewandowski.
Many fans of Barcelona are hoping he can make an instant impact on the team, as Barcelona has a statistical advantage over other teams in Europe’s major leagues when it comes to missing big chances.
Jijantes claims that Roque will don the number 19 shirt instead of the number 10 shirt that Ansu Fati vacated. That will also please manager Xavi Hernandez, who has already stated that they shouldn’t put too much pressure on him. Roque shows up clearly a raw teenager who has just recovered from an injury. Xavi will need to work hard to protect himself from the intense scrutiny he faces at Can Barca.
Las Palmas vs. debut?
As of right now, Roque is scheduled to start training on Friday, December 29, alongside his new teammates at Barcelona. He will have an open training session the following day, where he can meet the fans.
The young player’s formal presentation is set for January 3, and on January 4 against Las Palmas away in the Canary Islands, he is expected to make his official Barça debut.
First remarks
Speaking right away upon his arrival in Catalonia, Tigrinho expressed his happiness and exhilaration at finishing his ideal transfer.
“I am very happy with everything that has happened in my life. Thank you very much.” Now, it’s a reality,” he posted on the club’s social media.
“I think I’m trying to learn a lot with the whole group, have fun, and I always have the desire, I want to have the ball all the time and learn a lot with the whole group and score goals as well.”
For more updates, click on Barcelona.
