Al Hilal eye Barcelona's Vitor Roque amid financial struggles
Al Hilal have ramped up their efforts to sign Barcelona forward Vitor Roque, according to reports from SPORT.
The Brazilian striker's future under coach Hansi Flick has remained uncertain due to Barcelona's financial woes and strategic decisions.
Interest from Saudi Arabia surfaced about a week ago, and recently, it has been reported that Al Hilal were not only monitoring Roque's situation but also that Barcelona are open to negotiating a transfer this summer.
Coach Jorge Jesus of Al Hilal was reportedly eager to add Roque to his squad.
Barcelona, aiming to secure significant funds for their summer transfer plans, need to consider the financial aspect of such a move. The Catalan club have set Roque's transfer fee at €30 million, with an additional €31 million in potential add-ons.
It is widely believed that Al Hilal's offer would surpass this initial figure, providing Barcelona with much-needed financial relief.
Al Hilal's interest in Roque first emerged a few days prior, but they reignited their pursuit amid rumours of other clubs, including Sevilla, Corinthians and Real Betis eyeing the young talent.
However, Roque's agent, Andre Cury, quickly dismissed the idea of the striker returning to Brazilian football.
Barcelona's financial strain has necessitated offloading players not central to their immediate plans. Despite Roque's talent and potential, his limited playing time makes a transfer a logical step for both the player and the club. This move would allow Barcelona to stabilize their finances and pursue other transfer targets confidently.
The potential transfer of Roque to Al Hilal has highlighted the broader financial challenges facing Barcelona and their need to make strategic decisions in the transfer market.