Not €30 million – The actual amount Barcelona shelled out to sign 20-year-old former flop | OneFootball

It has been some time since Vitor Roque returned to Brazil, but questions around his brief and costly spell at Barcelona continue to surface.

While sporting director Deco has consistently mentioned a €30 million price tag, fresh details from Catalunya Radio via SPORT suggest the true cost was actually closer to €40 million.

Roque arrived at Barça in the summer of 2023 from Athletico Paranaense, hailed as one of Brazil’s brightest talents.

But despite the hype, the young forward struggled to make an impact in the first team. After just a few months in Spain, he was sold to Palmeiras during the winter transfer window for a reported fee of around €25 million, less than what the club initially paid.

Barça covered unexpected tax charges

According to the aforementioned outlet, although Barcelona paid €30 million for Roque, they also had to take on an additional €10 million in taxes.

Vitor Roque failed to make an impact at Barcelona. (Photo by Christian Alvarenga/Getty Images)

These taxes were linked to the capital gain made by Athletico Paranaense after selling the player to a Spanish club. Under Spanish tax law, such transfers are subject to a tax rate between 19% and 21%, resulting in the added cost.

This unexpected financial burden meant that Roque’s signing cost Barça roughly €40 million in total. While Deco remains confident the club can recover the €10 million in tax, this is far from guaranteed.

The only way to reclaim the money would be by filing a legal case against the Spanish tax authorities, something that adds more complexity to an already regrettable transfer.

In hindsight, the Roque deal highlights not only a miscalculation on the sporting front but also a financial and legal headache for the club.

While Deco believes that Barcelona can eventually get back the amount, the fact of the matter is that even if they file a case, it would take years for Barcelona to recover the amount.