Vitor Roque, the young Brazilian striker who joined Barcelona at the start of 2024, has reportedly rejected a move to Saudi Arabian giants Al-Hilal. Despite the club's interest in bringing him on loan with an option to buy, Roque's entourage turned down the offer, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano and Spanish publication SPORT.
Despite being frozen out under former manager Xavi Hernandez, Roque looks set to remain at the Camp Nou for the time being. While Barca are open to selling both him and fellow winger Raphinha, they were only interested in a permanent transfer for Roque, demanding a fee of over â¬40 million. This sum would have been easily affordable for the Saudi club, who were prepared to offer Roque a lucrative contract.
However, the young forward seems determined to fight for his place at Barcelona, despite the recent arrival of new manager Hansi Flick. Roque's determination is in stark contrast to that of his Brazilian teammate, Raphinha. The winger, who joined Barca from Leeds United in 2022, is reportedly open to a move away from Catalonia, with Al-Nassr offering a massive â¬100 million fee for his services. Raphinha is said to be keen on a return to the Premier League, with Arsenal and Aston Villa showing interest in the winger.
While both players are under contract with Barcelona, the club's current financial struggles mean they are open to selling key players if necessary. Vitor Roque, however, is contracted until mid-2027, giving him the luxury of remaining at Barcelona for the time being. He will be hoping to impress new manager Hansi Flick during the club's US pre-season tour, in a bid to secure his place in the team for the 2024/25 season.
With both Roque and Raphinha's futures uncertain, the coming weeks will be crucial for the two Brazilian forwards. It remains to be seen if they can convince the new manager of their worth, or whether they will be tempted by the lucrative offers coming in from the Middle East.