Athletico Paranaense president Mario Celso Petraglia admits that Vitor Roque is likely to leave for Europe with Premier League duo Arsenal and Newcastle United chasing the £40 million-rated wonderkid, speaking to Globo Esporte.
£40 million is, of course, an obscene sum of money for a 17-year-old with less than two seasons of first-team football under his belt. But there are examples of such an investment reaping considerable rewards.
Remember the bafflement and bemusement that greeted the news that Real Madrid were breaking the bank to sign a 16-year-old Vinicius Jr? No one was talking about the price-tag when the Brazil international scored the winner in last season’s Champions League final.
Of course, for every Vinicius, there is a Reinier Jesus.
But, after enhancing his already growing reputation with six goals in eight games at the U20 South American Championships this month, Petraglia already sounds like a man accepting that Roque’s fate lies on the other side of the Atlantic.
Arsenal are in talks to sign Brazil starlet Vitor Roque
“There’s a race for Vitor Roque. We cannot afford to pay what the Europeans pay,” says the Athletico Paranaense chief. “We’ve already received calls and offers, but they didn’t reach our number. (The sale) is still a long way off.”
According to Globo Esporte, Athletico want upwards of £40 million. They have already turned down a £22 million bid from an unnamed European club.
Athletico, interestingly, made Roque their record signing when they snapped up the-then 16-year-old from Cruzerio in April 2022. The team in the red and black stripes will be rewarded for their faith with a colossal profit; Barcelona, Newcastle, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and a Real Madrid side who recently agreed a deal with Palmeiras for Endrick de Souza all monitoring developments.
‘I think we will sell’
Goal, meanwhile, say that Arsenal director Edu Gaspar has now opened talks with Roque’s representatives. Labelled the ‘new Ronaldo’ due to his stylistic similarities with the 2002 World Cup winner, Roque could be lured to North London by the prospect of linking up with Gabriel Martinelli.
Martinelli joined Arsenal as a teenager and has made serious strides forward under Mikel Arteta.
“Vitor will probably be sold,” says former Brazil boss Luiz Felipe Scolari, now a director for Athletico.
“He’s 17 years old and has a lot to learn on the pitch. But he’s been playing in the Campeonato Brasileiro and the Copa Libertadores since he was 16. He’s a 17-year-old boy with the brain and experience of a 24 or 25-year-old.
“He’s ready. When (a club) comes up with enough money, I think we will sell.”
In 36 senior games for Athletico, Roque has seven goals. He will turn 18 later this month too. As such, there is nothing to stop an Arsenal or a Newcastle bringing Roque to Europe next summer.
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