Why Did Vitor Roque Leave Barca?

Vitor Roque, the Brazilian striker, was transferred from Barcelona to Palmeiras in February 2025 after a period on loan at Real Betis.

The move was finalized after some initial complications with Spanish Football Federation regulations, but FIFA eventually approved the transfer.

Roque returned to Brazil for an initial fee of €25 million, with potential add-ons for Barcelona and a future transfer clause included in the agreement.​

What was his career timeline at Barca?

• Roque joined Barcelona in January 2024 from Athletico Paranaense, played 16 times and scored twice for Barça before moving to Real Betis on loan in August 2024.​

  
  

• While at Betis, he scored seven goals in 33 games.​

  
  

• In February 2025, Barcelona sold Roque to Palmeiras, ending his loan at Betis early and finalizing a permanent transfer back to Brazil.​

  
  

Was Vitor Roque injured after leaving Barca?

Roque suffered a "low-grade" sprain in the internal ligament of his left ankle while at Betis in September 2024, which kept him out of several matches. His recovery did not require surgery, and he returned to play in the months following the injury.​

As of October and November 2025, reports indicate Roque is recovering from a right thigh injury, which could sideline him for several weeks.​

Key Points

• Roque is now officially a Palmeiras player; Barcelona will retain a percentage of any future transfer profits.​

  
  

• Multiple injuries affected Roque between late 2024 and late 2025, most notably an ankle sprain with Betis and a thigh injury at Palmeiras.​

  
  

• His move back to Brazil was expedited to help him settle before the Club World Cup, where Palmeiras is set to compete.​

  
  

Vitor Roque has experienced both transfers and injuries recently, leading to his current situation as a Palmeiras player recovering from a minor injury.​

What actually happened with Vitor Roque at Barcelona?

Barcelona's treatment of Vitor Roque was widely criticized, especially by his agent and Roque himself, as the club had high expectations but showed impatience with his development.

Roque joined Barcelona in January 2024 with considerable hype around his potential, but played just over 300 minutes for the first team and was soon loaned to Real Betis during the summer of 2024 under manager Hansi Flick.

Roque expressed disappointment with how he was managed at Barcelona and felt his opportunities were limited, far short of what he anticipated.​

His agent pointed out that Barcelona's approach was very demanding and unsupportive compared to other clubs like Real Madrid, which showed more patience with young talents such as Endrick.

The agent said Barcelona was "spoiled" and expected instant results, which hindered Roque's growth.

They also noted the immense pressure and media scrutiny Roque faced at Barcelona.​

The club eventually decided that Roque did not fit into their plans and arranged for an early termination of his loan at Real Betis to sell him permanently to Palmeiras in February 2025, recouping most of their investment in him.

This transfer saga also involved some regulatory challenges with La Liga, but the deal was completed with Barcelona securing an initial fee of about €25 million plus add-ons.​

Further controversy surrounds the transfer handling within Barcelona's leadership, including criticism from a former presidential candidate about transparency and the sporting director, Deco, who was accused of pushing the Roque deal prematurely. Deco denied these claims and threatened legal action.​

In summary, Barcelona showed high expectations but lacked patience and support for Roque, which led to a rushed loan move and eventual sale. Roque felt poorly treated and his agent publicly criticized the club's handling of his client's career at Barcelona.