Out-of-favor Barcelona striker attracts Italian interest

This summer will be a true test for how FC Barcelona manages their finances in a difficult moment. With a limited budget at hand and some high-profile targets in mind, efficiency will be key for them. However, for Barcelona to effectively pursue their targets, some sacrifices must be made as well.

At the moment, Barça has to generate adequate revenue and also create space in their wage bill to even accommodate potential signings. Targets such as Nico Williams and Dani Olmo, operations that Barça is actively working on, would only be able to arrive and be incorporated if the club has the required space for them within their budget.

As such, the various options that the club could look to send on their way out this summer have been studied as well. At the moment, the name who is being linked most frequently to a potential exit is that of Vitor Roque, the 19-year-old South American forward who is yet to make an impact for Barça.

In the latest turn of events, moreover, new interest from Italy has arrived for him. According to SPORT, Serie A side Lazio has been hoping to sign Roque for quite some time now, and their initial proposal involved a loan deal for one season that would help the player adapt to European football before returning to Barça.

However, the Catalan giants would prefer a permanent transfer for both sporting and economic reasons. Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal approached with such an offer, but the young Brazilian forward and his entourage apparently ended up rejecting that advance.

That is why Lazio is also willing to consider a permanent purchase, but with a different structure. This particular structure would involve them paying €20 million for half of the player’s economic rights, and they believe a significant future sale of his would be beneficial to both the Italian side and FC Barcelona.

Overall, it is not exactly a bad deal for La Blaugrana but they are still waiting to sign at least one forward before parting ways with Roque. Whether it is Nico Williams, Dani Olmo, or someone else entirely, it remains to be seen. For the Brazilian striker, however, a European option is much more favorable than the Saudi Arabian ones, and he may reportedly be open to joining Lazio.

Furthermore, the option of Portuguese side Porto is still open. Barcelona maintain good relationships with the club, but the Catalan giants will only pursue that option if other windows of opportunity close on Roque. That is because Porto wish to have him on loan with a mandatory purchase clause, which is not exactly ideal for Barça at the moment.