Barcelona have completed a deal to sign Vitor Roque from Athletico Paranaense, according to Fabrizio Romano.
As revealed by the player himself earlier this year, Roque has had his heart on moving to Camp Nou for a while now.
“Yes, it [Barcelona] is not only a dream of mine but also of any player,” the 18-year-old told Spanish outlet Sport.
“If ending up going to Barca comes to fruition, it will be a great joy for my family and for me – for this reason, I have to continue working hard and hope that everything will come to fruition over time.
“The competitions I played last year, the Libertadores and the Brasileirao, will help me to be well prepared when I go to Europe.
“My goal is to continue working with humility, because with faith in God everything will turn out well.”
Roque will team up with his new employers in January 2024 following the conclusion of the current Brasileiro season in December.
Scoring in each of his last five matches across all competitions, the striker has racked up seven goals and two assists in 13 league games this term and it is not hard to see why he is attracting interest around Europe.
Having gotten a deal for Roque over the line, Barca are now expected to turn their attention to the pursuit of another teenage prospect in Arda Guler after his breakout season with Fenerbahce last time out.
The La Liga giants are currently in talks over a deal for Guler, who is likely to spend one more season on loan in Turkey before making a permanent switch to his next club.
However, Barcelona will have to fend off competition from several teams including AC Milan and arch-rivals Real Madrid, who are also contemplating triggering Guler’s €17.5 million release clause this summer.
