FIFA gives green light for Barcelona to sell Vitor Roque to Palmeiras | OneFootball

After weeks of negotiations filled with twists and turns, Vitor Roque is now on the verge of joining Palmeiras.

According to A Bola, Barcelona and the Brazilian club have reached a full agreement, with both sides working to finalise the deal before the transfer window in Brazil closes on Friday.

Palmeiras will reportedly pay €25.5 million, with an additional €5m in potential add-ons, for 80 percent of the 19-year-old striker’s economic rights.

Roque was linked with a move to Sporting CP last summer but ended up joining Real Betis on loan.

After initial hesitation, the Basque club has now agreed to terminate the loan early and allow him to move back to Brazil.

La Liga tried to block the transfer, arguing that Betis returning Roque to Barca mid-season would violate Spanish transfer rules, as the window is already closed.

However, FIFA has extended Barca a lifeline, handing the Spanish giants the green light to proceed with the transfer, rendering La Liga and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) powerless to stop it.

Moving Roque on would provide Barca with a huge financial boost, with the club struggling to free up their bloated wage bill.

The funds generated from Roque’s imminent exit will help Barca permanently register defender Inigo Martínez, whose high wages have been a concern for the Catalan club.

To smooth negotiations with Betis, Barca have reportedly offered their Spanish counterparts 30% of Abde Ezzalzouli’s future transfer fee as an incentive to release Roque early.

Roque initially joined Barca from Athletico Paranaense for an initial €30m with an additional €30m in potential add-ons, but the Brazilian talent struggled to make an impact.

Despite arriving with a reputation as one of the finest young talents to emerge from South America, Roque only made 16 appearances for Barca.

He scored just twice before being shipped out to Betis on loan, where he has bagged just seven goals and two assists in 33 games across all competitions.

Roque had initially established himself as a key player in Manuel Pellegrini’s squad but has fallen down the pecking order, with Cucho Hernandez and Cedric Bakambu preferred in attack.