Manchester United target Vitor Roque has been unable to prove himself since moving to La Liga giants Barcelona and his loan deal at Real Betis is set to end prematurely.
It can be a tricky transition when a footballer moves from one continent to another.
Vitor Roque has been linked with a permanent move away from Barcelona after failing to impress at Camp Nou, where he was brought to be an understudy to Robert Lewandowski.
It didn’t quite work out that way and Roque was sent temporarily to Real Betis, where he has scored seven goals in 33 appearances so far this season.
Roque joined Barcelona in January 2024 from Athletico Paranaense for £25 million with the same amount due again in potential add-ons.
The Brazil international’s agent claimed that Roque snubbed offers from Manchester United when he opted to join Barcelona at the start of 2024.
It makes us wonder if Roque’s time in Europe would have been different had he joined Manchester United instead of Barcelona.
Vitor Roque set to leave Europe
Barcelona have been trying to sell Vitor Roque, even though the striker is currently on loan at Real Betis.
They have been carrying out negotiations with Brazilian outfit Palmeiras, which were thought to have stalled due to the complicated nature of signing a player who is on loan at another La Liga club.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has provided an update on the situation with his trademark phrase ‘here we go’ to reveal that Palmeiras as close to signing Roque.
It is understood that a £25m deal – plus £5m and sell-on clause — is in place and Real Betis gave their stamp of approval.
In turn, Roque has committed the next five years of his career to Palmeiras.
Antony outshines Roque at Real Betis
Real Betis added more attacking talent to their squad in January when Antony joined on loan for the remainder of the season.
That will make it easier for the thriving La Liga side to lose Roque midway through the campaign.
Especially when Antony is already closing in on Roque’s goal tally, even though his fellow countryman has been at the club since the start of the season.
Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini has been impressed with his new signing and they could look to strike a permanent deal with United if Antony’s form continues.
After winning a man of the match award on his Real Betis debut, Antony has scored three goals and registered two assists in just six matches.
Roque, in comparison, made 33 appearances and scored seven goals on top of two assists.
In La Liga, Roque managed just four goals in 22 appearances, whereas Antony has two goals in four league matches.
Antony was granted a surprise boost this week when his red card against Granada was overturned, meaning the 23-year-old will be available to face Real Madrid this weekend.
The tricky winger will be aiming to add to his tally when Betis host Real Madrid on Saturday.
There is something ironic about Antony doing a better job at Betis than a player we’ve been linked to in the past. That alone is a sign that previous recruitment team were set to repeat old mistakes in the transfer market.
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