Vitor Roque's World Cup to forget, bad news for Barça

Published New:6/07/2025 - 01:14h

Updated New:6/07/2025 - 01:15h

Vitor Roque's elimination and 'poor' performance in the Club World Cup did not allow Barça to receive at least 3 million euros

Vitor Roque's poor performance, in addition to Palmeiras' elimination in the Club World Cup, did not allow the FC Barcelona to receive a considerable amount of money, which before selling him to the Brazilian team kept a series of variables that reach 5 million euros to get more out of the operation.

In this sense, the Blaugrana team sold 80% of the rights of the 20-year-old center forward last February, who signed for 5 seasons (until 2030). For this operation, the Catalan team would have received about 25.5 M€ of fixed euros, in addition to keeping 20% of a future sale.

Now, the recent elimination of the Brazilian team against Chelsea (1-2) in the quarterfinals of the Club World Cup represents a 'headache' for Barça, since they will not receive a single euro of the 3 'kilos' that they could have received at this point if everything went well for the player and his club.

How are the 5 'kilos' divided into variables for Vitor Roque?

Club World Cup (2 M€): This scenario was contemplated if the '9' of the São Paulo team was among the three best players in the intercontinental competition. This objective is no longer possible because the player participated in 5 matches (285 minutes) and, apart from being out of the competition, he did not score a goal or assist.
Palmeiras international champion (1 million): To the 2 'kilos' already mentioned, 1 more lost would have to be added, because one of the clauses is that, if Palmeiras wins an international title within the 5-year period, Barça would receive this sum. However, this objective is more realistic because the 'verdão' constantly participates in the Copa Libertadores and the next Club World Cup is in 2029.
Ballon d'Or finalist (2 million euros): The Catalan team would receive this sum if the Brazilian striker manages to be among the three finalists for the individual award. However, the level of 'Tigrinho' is leaving much to be desired and for now he would be far from at least entering the top 30 of the award.

Barcelona-Roque, a link with high expectations

When Barça closed the signing of Vitor Roque in the summer of 2023 to incorporate him in the winter of 2024 (a transfer that was set at 30 million euros fixed to Athletico Paranaense, plus 31 in variables that were not met), high expectations were generated around the player, since he was registering numbers of a '9' of level with just 18 years. Thus, in the 2022/23 season, he scored 21 goals and gave 8 assists in 45 matches with the 'hurricane'.

In this way, the player arrived in the Condal City in January 2024, due to the complete rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of the right knee of Gavi, in addition to an injury associated with the external meniscus. Although they were not players of the same demarcation, the sports management wanted to have a greater squad depth.

Finally, Vitor enjoyed 353 minutes in 16 matches during the 2023/24 season, in which he scored 2 goals. Then he went on loan to Betis for the 2024/25 season, where he played 33 matches and scored 7 goals. Subsequently, the loan was broken to finalize his sale to Palmeiras.

It is important to mention that, according to the program 'Barca Reservat' of Catalunya Radio, the Blaugrana team would also have assumed the payment of taxes that corresponded to Athletico Paranaense, for which the total cost of the operation would have risen to 40 million.