Barcelona announced this week that Lamine Yamal would be changing shirt numbers to 19 this summer after he was registered as a first-team player. It has not gone unnoticed that the occupant of that number, Vitor Roque, has not been given a new number.
The Brazilian striker was initially registered as an emergency signing in place of Gavi, and wore the number 19 for the second half of last season, opening his account for the Blaugrana in January. With that emergency spot in the salary limit now null and void, and Barcelona yet to However there has been significant doubt over his future this summer, and Sport say that it is no coincidence that he has not been given a new one.
Image: Lamine Yamal in the new kit. @FCBarcelona pic.twitter.com/bUUSERcPDz
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) July 18, 2024
The 19-year-old has ‘very little chance’ of continuing at Barcelona next season, and he will be the first sacrifice the club make if they can find a home for him, prioritising other signings first. They say that Barcelona are already open to listen to offers for him, but none have so far arrived – Napoli, Fiorentina, Lazio and Porto have all been linked to him, but little came of it. The Catalan daily now report that Saudi Arabia are the most likely to submit an offer.
Roque cost Barcelona €30m, and while he has not hit any of the €31m in variables that Barcelona also committed to, it seems like they may struggle to recoup their money for Roque. Their own actions speak to the fact they do not feel he can make it at the club, and perhaps only if they can convince him to go to the Middle East do they stand much hope. If Roque refuses to do so, a loan move may be more likely.
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