Future Barcelona striker Vitor Roque tears ankle ligaments – sources

Vitor Roque might have performed his final sport for Athletico Paranaense earlier than his transfer to Barcelona after sources confirmed to ESPN Brasil that the striker has torn ligaments in his proper ankle.

Roque, 18, was stretchered off injured within the first half of Thursday’s 2-1 Brasileirao Serie A win over Internacional.

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After additional exams, Athletico determined that the participant won’t endure surgical procedure however a membership supply advised ESPN Brasil that Roque will nonetheless be out for no less than three months.

With the Brazilian home season resulting from finish in December, that will imply he has performed his remaining match for the membership.

Spanish champions Barça confirmed in July they’d reached an settlement to signal Roque for an preliminary €30 million rising to a possible €61m primarily based on efficiency-associated add-ons.

The Catalan membership’s plan is to carry Roque to Europe in January, though a remaining resolution will rely upon the monetary honest play state of affairs with LaLiga on the time.

If Barça can’t afford to register Roque with LaLiga mid-season, there’s a risk the transfer will likely be finalised subsequent summer time as a substitute.

In that state of affairs, he might but play for Athletico once more when the 2024 Brazilian season begins subsequent April.

Roque joined Athletico from Cruzeiro in 2022 and has scored 27 objectives in 77 appearances since, together with 20 in 41 within the present marketing campaign. He is the second prime scorer in Brazil’s prime flight this season, with 11 objectives.

He made his senior debut for Brazil earlier this yr, approaching as an alternative in a pleasant in opposition to Morocco.

ESPN’s Adriana Garcia contributed to this report.