•Vitor Roque
Barcelona have made the decision to bring forward Vitor Roque’s arrival for the upcoming January transfer window.
There had been concerns about accommodating him due to the salary limit issues, but with Gavi getting injured and ruled out for the remainder of the season, it opened up an opportunity for Barça to use that space to sign someone in January, reports AFP.
If reports are to be believed, it has been decided by Barcelona that they will register Roque in January with the space created from Gavi’s absence, and plans are already being made for his arrival.
Roque expected to arrive on December 28.
Indeed, according to Mundo Deportivo, it will be on December 28th when he will start working under the orders of Xavi Hernandez and meet his new teammates. That day is set as the team’s return to work after a short Christmas break.
Vitor Roque’s plan is to arrive in Barcelona on 27 December, after spending Christmas in Brazil, to start working the following day with the rest of the team.
Initially, the player’s plans were to travel to Barcelona earlier, after playing his last game with Athletico Paranaense on the 6th. However, there is a legal issue that plays against him.
According to MD, as soon as the 18-year-old joins the club he has to be registered as an employee with Social Security, and from that moment the amortisation of his signing begins and, therefore, impacts Fair Play.
And given that the club does not have a lot of salary space, it has been decided that his incorporation will coincide with the team’s return to work after the Christmas holidays.
The idea is for Roque to be ready in time for Barcelona’s game against Las Palmas on January 4, where he could make his debut.
On his arrival, Roque will work alongside Robert Lewandowski. At Barcelona, they are delighted that he will spend the logical period of adaptation close to a world-class striker like the Pole.
Sharing training sessions and matches with Lewandowski will allow Roque to learn from the former Bayern Munich player and face his first months as a Barça player with less pressure.