Vitor Roque is a ‘revelation’ with the Premier League-linked Arsenal forward exciting former Brazil international Neto more than Real Madrid wonderkid Endrick de Souza, speaking to Os Donos da Bala.
After Rodrygo Goes and Vinicius Junior combined to humiliate Liverpool on their hallowed Anfield turf this week – turning a 2-0 deficit into a 5-2 lead in the blink of an eye – anyone criticising the decision to pay an initial £33 million for 16-year-old Endrick need only look at how far Real’s other Brazilian imports have come since arriving at the Santiago Bernabeu as baby-faced teenagers.
The European champions fought off serious competition for Endrick; eventually striking a deal that could rise to £63 million.
But while there can be no doubting Endrick’s staggering potential, Neto cannot understand why the Palmeiras academy graduate was named the Brazilian league’s best newcomer for 2022. The award, he argues, should have gone to Vitor Roque instead.
“Endrick played seven games in the Brazilian league and then he was elected the revelation (of the season),” Neto says.
“He was not the revelation. It was a lie by the CBF (Brazilian Federation). The revelation was Vitor Roque.”
Arsenal hope to beat Barcelona and Real Madrid to Vitor Roque
In contrast to Endrick, Roque played 29 league games for Athletico Paranaense, scoring seven goals in all competitions. The 17-year-old was even named in the Copa Libertadores Team of the Tournament.
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He, too, is on Real Madrid’s radar. La Liga rivals Barcelona appear to be leading the chase, however, though the likes of Arsenal will not give up so easily. Per Goal, Arsenal’s Brazilian director Edu Gaspar recently opened talks with Roque’s representatives as he looks to emulate the Gabriel Martinelli deal of 2019.
Roque, however, will cost a damn sight more than Martinelli. Athletico want an eye-watering £40 million; his agent confirming that a £25 million bid has already been rejected.
“Vitor will probably be sold,” says former Brazil boss Luiz Felipe Scolari, now technical director of 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.”
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