Barcelona ‘move to bring in Brazilian wonderkid Vitor Roque in January’ – after initially planning to register the 18-year-old dubbed ‘the new Ronaldo’ for the 2024-25 campaign

• Barca confirmed the signing of Vitor Roque for an initial £26m fee in the summer 
• The 18-year-old was due to join the squad for the 2024-25 LaLiga campaign  
• IAN LADYMAN: If Spurs go toe-to-toe with City, they’ll have their trousers pulled down – It’s All Kicking Off

Brazilian wonderkid Vitor Roque is finally set to join Barcelona later this month following his £26million signing from Athletico-PR last summer. 

The 18-year-old was supposed to join the squad of the LaLiga champions for the start of the 2024-25 campaign, having penned an eight-year contract on a transfer that could rise to £52m. 

However, Barcelona have decided to accelerate his arrival and will now welcome the forward to the Olympic Stadium for the remainder of the season. 

Roque will play his final game for Athletico against Cuiaba on December 7 before linking up with Xavi’s squad on December 27, according to Mundo Deportivo. 

The outlet report that Barcelona will take a short Christmas break after their league match against Almeria on December 20 and resume training eight days later. 

Vitor Roque was supposed to join Barcelona next season following his £26m signing in July

Xavi’s squad has become reliant on the contribution of several promising young players

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It’s at that point the young Brazilian will get his first chance to impress his new team-mates and manager ahead of a trip to Las Palmas on January 4. 

Roque has scored 12 goals and provided three assists in 24 Serie A games for Athletico this season. 

Xavi, whose squad has become reliant on the contributions of young players, will hope the teenager can make an immediate impact and help breathe life into a campaign that threatens to spiral out of control. 

The club will be able to use the long-term injury to Gavi to their advantage as 80 percent of the midfielder’s approximately £4.3m salary can be used to register Roque to compete in LaLiga for six months. 

Barcelona currently sit in fourth place in the Spanish top-flight, four points behind their rivals Real Madrid at the top. 

Barcelona will be able to use the majority of Gavi’s wage to register Roque to compete in LaLiga for the remainder of the 2023-24 season

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