The proposed transfer of Vitor Roque from Barcelona to Palmeiras appears to be collapsing due to regulatory constraints imposed by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), multiple sources have confirmed to ESPN.
The Brazilian club Palmeiras had reached an agreement with Barcelona for a €25 million transfer fee, with the Catalan giants retaining a 20% stake in any future transfer. However, the deal has hit a significant roadblock due to RFEF's Article 159 regulations governing loan transfers.
The complexity arises from Roque's current loan situation at Real Betis, where he has been playing since August. For the transfer to materialize, Roque would need to return to Barcelona before completing his move to Palmeiras. However, Article 159 of the RFEF's general regulations stipulates that loan terminations require all parties' agreement and, crucially, the receiving club must be within their registration period. With Spain's transfer window already closed earlier this month, Barcelona cannot register Roque's return.
Furthermore, the regulations explicitly prohibit the direct transfer of loans, eliminating the possibility of Roque moving directly from Betis to Palmeiras on loan before finalizing a permanent deal.
Sources have informed ESPN Brazil that while Palmeiras is exploring potential workarounds, there is growing pessimism about completing the transfer before Brazil's transfer window closes on Friday.
The 19-year-old striker, who joined Barcelona in January 2024 from Athletico Paranaense for an initial €30 million with potential add-ons of the same amount, will likely remain at Betis until the summer. His current season at Betis has seen him net seven goals in 33 appearances.
Roque's journey in European football began after an impressive stint at Athletico Paranaense, where he scored 28 goals in 81 appearances as a teenager, performances that earned him his sole Brazil national team cap in 2023. However, his time at Barcelona proved challenging, with limited opportunities resulting in just two goals across 16 appearances before his loan move to Betis.
