Barcelona face fresh complications in completing €25m sale of Vitor Roque to Palmeiras | OneFootball

Vitor Roque’s potential transfer to Palmeiras is proving more complicated than it initially seemed.

The teenage striker, currently on loan at Real Betis from FC Barcelona, has emerged as a target for Palmeiras in Brazil, where the transfer window is open until February 28.

As reported earlier today, Barcelona have agreed on a €25 million deal for 80% of the teenage striker’s rights with Palmeiras.

Fresh complications

However, now Mundo Deportivo reports that Barcelona and Palmeiras are facing fresh complications in order to push the deal through.

Beyond securing Real Betis’ approval, where Roque is on loan until June, the deal would also require a confirmation from La Liga.

Roque could return to Brazil next week. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

As per the report, Barcelona cannot sell the player outright with the transfer window closed, as they would first need to re-register him, even temporarily, before completing the sale.

As such, the only viable solution at present is for Real Betis to loan Roque directly to Palmeiras, including a mandatory purchase clause for the summer that satisfies both Barcelona and the Andalusian club.

However, Real Betis are not currently willing to facilitate the move, and Barcelona are unwilling to pay any compensation to force the deal, given that only three months remain on Roque’s loan at the Benito Villamarin.

Palmeiras, for their part, are stepping up their efforts to sign Roque as soon as possible to avoid any last-minute mishaps, but the complications will pose a hurdle.

The coming week will be decisive, as the Brazilian transfer window closes on 28 February, the same day Vitor Roque turns 20 years old.