Vitor Roque’s Transfer to Palmeiras Hits Major Snag Due to RFEF Regulations

Vitor Roque’s Transfer Saga: A Complex Web of Regulations and Deadlines

In the world of football, transfers can often be a tangled web of negotiations, regulations, and last-minute surprises. The latest chapter in this ongoing saga involves Vitor Roque, a promising young striker whose potential move from Barcelona to Palmeiras seems to be hitting a significant roadblock. According to various sources, including ESPN, the deal is likely to fall through due to the Royal Spanish Football Federation’s (RFEF) regulations.

So, what exactly is going on here? Let’s break it down. Roque, who is currently on loan at Real Betis, was set to make a move to Palmeiras. However, the RFEF’s rules are proving to be a major hurdle. These regulations prevent Betis from cutting his loan short, which is a necessary step for the transfer to Palmeiras to go through.

Sources have informed ESPN Brazil that Palmeiras is actively exploring potential workarounds to bring Roque to the club before the transfer window in Brazil closes on Friday. However, there is a growing sense of pessimism about the likelihood of this happening.

Initially, Palmeiras had agreed on a €25 million fee with Barça for Roque, with the Catalan club retaining 20% of any future transfer. This seemed like a promising deal for all parties involved. However, for the transfer to be completed, Roque would need to return to Barça from his loan at Betis before signing with Palmeiras.

Here’s where the RFEF’s Article 159 comes into play. This regulation states that loans can be cut short if the two clubs and the player all agree, but the club where the player is set to return—Barça, in this case—must be inside a registration period. Unfortunately, the transfer window in Spain closed earlier this month, making this condition impossible to meet.

Additionally, the same article specifies that loans are un-transferable, which rules out the possibility of Roque moving directly from Betis to Palmeiras on loan before finalizing a permanent deal in the future. As it stands, the 19-year-old striker will remain at Betis until the summer. So far this season, he has scored seven goals in 33 appearances.

Roque’s journey to this point has been quite eventful. He joined Barça in January 2024 from Athletico Paranaense for an initial fee of around €30 million, with the same amount due again in potential add-ons. However, he found it challenging to secure regular playing time at the Blaugrana, scoring just twice in 16 games last season before heading out to Betis on loan.

Before his move to Europe, Roque made a name for himself at Athletico Paranaense, where he scored 28 times in 81 games as a teenager. His impressive performances earned him his solitary Brazil cap in 2023.

• Roque’s current status: On loan at Real Betis
• Goals scored this season: 7 in 33 appearances
• Transfer fee agreed with Palmeiras: €25 million
• Barça’s retained percentage of future transfer: 20%

As the clock ticks down to the transfer window deadline in Brazil, all eyes are on Palmeiras and their efforts to navigate this complex situation. Will they find a way to bring Roque to the club, or will the RFEF’s regulations prove insurmountable? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure: the world of football transfers is never short on drama.

ESPN Brazil’s Francisco De Laurentiis contributed to this story.