Barcelona have agreed to sign Athletico Paranaense striker Vitor Roque ahead of the 2024-25 season, pipping the likes of Manchester United to his services, and his agent has revealed the great lengths the Red Devils went as they tried to hijack the deal for the 18-year-old.
Andre Cury told Charla Podcast that the Old Trafford club and Tottenham Hotspur looked to snap up the teenage sensation even after he agreed to join the La Liga club, tabling up to €100 million to sign him, but he only wanted to move to Barca.
“A gente recebeu propostas MUITO maiores de Tottenham e Manchester United pelo Vitor Roque. Passava de 100 milhões. Mas o plano de carreira dele está bem traçado e optamos pelo Barcelona. O momento não é pra olhar o dinheiro e sim a carreira.”
🗣️ André Cury ao @CharlaPodcast pic.twitter.com/5aFHnDi8qc
— Charla Podcast (@CharlaPodcast) July 12, 2023
Man United are in the market for a striker and manager Erik ten Hag has Atalanta’s hitman Rasmus Hojlund on his radar, with Randal Kolo Muani also identified, and that the Dutchman would have been keen on splashing €100m on Roque seems unbelievable.
While the Brazilian has notched 22 goals in 66 appearances for Paranaense and is his country’s youngest international debutant after making an appearance against Morocco in March, he is untested in Europe and could struggle with the speed and physicality of the Premier League.
Roque will join Barca in July 2024 in a deal totalling around €61m, and Man United would not have been willing to wait a year before getting him if they were indeed interested, so it is safe to say they are unlikely to regret moving on and looking at other targets.
They need someone capable of hitting the ground running at Old Trafford and helping them challenge for the Premier League title and Champions League, and a striker with a proven track record and European experience fits the bill.
Man United have already signed England international midfielder Mason Mount from Chelsea and are closing in on a deal for Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana following the departure of David de Gea, but a striker remains top priority as they look to battle for major silverware next season.
