Barcelona are set to keep hold of Vitor Roque in the long-term after opting to send the 19-year-old striker out on loan this season instead of selling in a permanent transfer.

Roque has been pushed to the periphery at Barca. The Brazilian struggled to establish himself following January’s €30m (plus up to €31m more in add-ons) arrival from Athletico Paranaense.

Yet any hopes of a fresh start in 2024/25 under new coach Hansi Flick were dashed when Roque was left without a shirt number, having seen his No.19 jersey given to Lamine Yamal, and not registered in the first-team squad in favour of several lesser known talents.

A permanent move to Portugal with Sporting CP looked on the cards earlier this week. But Barcelona are now reported by Marca to have turned down the offer from Lisbon, in favour of accepting a loan proposal that will see Roque join Real Betis until next summer instead.

The offer from Sporting is described as “significant”, but still short of Barca’s initial €30m outlay. The suggestion is there was more behind the decision to turn it down than money, though. From a sporting perspective, it is now claimed that Barcelona haven’t completely lost faith in Roque and want to remain in control of his future, at least for a while longer.

In theory, joining Real Betis on loan will given Roque the chance to adapt to La Liga away from the same intense scrutiny he was facing in Catalonia last season.

Under the guidance of coach Manuel Pellegrini, Betis have a strong setup and a squad filled with experience amassed by the likes of Isco, Nabil Fekir, Marc Bartra, Diego Llorente, Ricardo Rodriguez and William Carvalho. But Roque, as well as afforded the opportunity to learn, would bring some more youthful energy to make it a mutually beneficial arrangement.

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