60m rated star Vitor Roque is ready to snub Barcelona in extraordinary circumstances in a bid to make the switch to the Premier League, thanks to a less-than-ideal relationship between the Catalan giants and Roque’s agent.
The 18-year-old Brazilian is expected to be the next cab off the rank after the high profile departures of Endrick and Andrey Santos to Europe in the last six months, and he impressed in the U20 South American Championship, finishing top goalscorer in the competition with six strikes to his name.
The teenager has long been linked with a move to the Camp Nou this summer, but there are questions both over Barca’s ability to stump up the demanded 60m euros, with the Catalan club in financial difficulties even before making any signings this summer.
Worse still for Xavi’s side, it is claimed that they have two key things going against them in the race for the 18-year-old’s signature.
First, the preference of the player is to move to England rather than the Spanish top flight, having already held informal talks with both Chelsea and Arsenal, it is claimed.
As per reports from Brazil, ‘the athlete’s own desire is to go to the most competitive league in the world’, which would leave the Blaugrana at a disadvantage.
Both Arsenal and Chelsea are thought to be interested in making the move, with the Gunners already boasting a strong Brazilian contingent, while Graham Potter’s struggling Blues are crying out for a natural striker following their woes in front of goal this season.
