Vitor Roque

Vitor Roque
Vitor Hugo Roque Ferreira (born 28 February 2005), known as Vitor Roque, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Athletico Paranaense and the Brazil national team. He will join La Liga club Barcelona in July 2024.
Club career
Early career
Born in Timóteo, Minas Gerais, Vitor Roque joined América Mineiro's youth setup at the age of ten, and impressed with the side's youth categories in 2018. In March 2019, he signed a youth contract with Cruzeiro, which led América to sue his new club in the State Labour Department; both clubs only reached an agreement in May, with Cruzeiro retaining 65 per cent of the player's economic rights, and América keeping the other 35 per cent.
Cruzeiro
On 25 May 2021, Vitor Roque signed his first professional contract with Cruzeiro. He made his professional debut on 12 October; after coming on as a second-half substitute for Bruno José in a 0–0 Série B home draw against Botafogo, he played for 18 minutes before being himself replaced by Keké, with manager Vanderlei Luxemburgo saying that he was "unable to keep the pace" but also "praising for his debut".
Already a part of the first team for the 2022 season, Vitor Roque scored his first goal on 20 February of that year, netting the club's first in a 2–2 Campeonato Mineiro home draw against Villa Nova. Three days later, he scored a brace in a 5–0 away routing over Sergipe in the Copa do Brasil.
Athletico Paranaense
On 13 April 2022, Vitor Roque signed a five-year contract with Athletico Paranaense, after the club activated his R$ 24 million release clause; it was the biggest transfer of the club's history. He made his debut for the club four days later, replacing Luis Manuel Orejuela late into a 1–0 Série A home loss against Atlético Mineiro.
Vitor Roque scored his first goal for Furacão on 29 May 2022, scoring the winner in a 1–0 away win over Cuiabá. On 7 August, he scored a brace in a 3–2 away win over Atlético Mineiro, and finished the season with 13 goals, six for Cruzeiro and seven for Athletico.
Barcelona
On 12 July 2023, La Liga club Barcelona announced that they had reached an agreement for the transfer of Vitor Roque with Athletico, agreeing a contract until 2030–31 season with a buyout clause of €500 million. He is expected to join the Catalan club in the beginning of 2024–25 season.
International career
On 3 March 2023, Vitor Roque was called for the first time for the Brazil national team by interim head coach Ramon Menezes to play in a friendly match against Morocco on 25 March 2023. He was substituted on in the 65th minute of the game in a 2–1 defeat at the Ibn Batouta Stadium.
Career statistics
Club
International
Honours
Athletico Paranaense
Campeonato Paranaense: 2023
Copa Libertadores runner-up: 2022
Brazil U20
South American U-20 Championship: 2023
Individual
Copa Libertadores Team of the Tournament: 2022
South American U-20 Championship Top scorer: 2023
References
External links
2005 births
Living people
People from Timóteo
Brazilian men's footballers
Footballers from Minas Gerais
Men's association football forwards
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A players
Campeonato Brasileiro Série B players
Cruzeiro Esporte Clube players
Club Athletico Paranaense players
Brazil men's youth international footballers
Brazil men's under-20 international footballers
Brazil men's international footballers