Vitor Roque has left Barcelona on loan for the duration of the 2024-25 campaign as he seeks a La Liga reset after struggling to make an impact.
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Roque & Lenglet leave BarcelonaLoans to Real Betis & Atletico MadridOlmo still not registered to playWHAT HAPPENED?
Roque will spend the 2024-25 season with Real Betis, who also have the option to a second year and a permanent transfer. Barcelona first announced the deal, while Betis initially teased it with a comical nod to cult fictional Brazilian striker Castolo from the Pro Evolution Soccer video games.
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Roque will hope the move to a less pressurised environment, where he can also learn from veteran players like Isco, Nabil Fekir and Marc Bartra, as well revered coach Manuel Pellegrini, will allow him to find his feet in Spanish football. The 19-year-old cost Barcelona an initial €30 million (£25.4m/$33.6m) as the Catalans looked to respond to Real Madrid's pre-arranged capture of Endrick. But Roque struggled to establish himself, afforded just 353 minutes of game time across 16 appearances. He was then omitted from this season's first-team squad and saw his shirt number stripped away and handed to Lamine Yamal.
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Shortly after confirming Roque's loan, Barcelona also announced Clement Lenglet's one-year loan to La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid, without an option for a permanent transfer. The French defender hasn't played a competitive game for the club since 2022 after successive loans at Tottenham and Aston Villa.
WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?
Barcelona fans will hope the combined exits of Ilkay Gundogan, Roque and Lenglet finally allow the club to register €60m (£50.8m/$67.1m) summer signing Dani Olmo. The Euro 2024 star has missed two La Liga games so far because of the financial shortcomings.