FC Barcelona has signed one of the world's most promising strikers according to a study.
FC Barcelona has signed one of the world's promising strikers in Vitor Roque, according to a study.
Vitor Roque joined the club in January, after the Catalans agreed a deal with his former club Athletico Paranaense last summer.
Barca will pay the Curitiba outfit a fixed $32.8 million for the 19-year-old, and then another $34 million in add-ons if he hits a number of targets related to trophies and individual prizes such as the Ballon d'Or.
If a CIES Football Observatory study shared by MARCA is accurate, Vitor Roque might do just that.
This is because according to their findings, he is one of the world's "most promising" young strikers second only to future Real Madrid rival Endrick.
"Criteria of matches played, the age of the players in question, and the level of demand of the competition," over 365 days were taken into account to form the list, which is topped by the two Brazilians as Brighton's Evan Ferguson came in third.
Rounding off the top ten were Chilean Damian Pizarro of Colo Colo, Argentine Jeronimo Domina at Union Santa Fe, Serbian Milos Lukovic with FK IMT, French-Nigerian George Ilenikhena at Royal Antwerp, Slovenian Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig, Bologna's Argentine Santiago Castro, and another Brazilian in Marcos Leonardo who recently moved from Santos to Benfica in Portugal.
What makes Endrick and Vitor Roque stand out from the pack is that they have already signed for two of the world's biggest clubs while the rest of the players listed are still blossoming and yet to make big moves.
While as said Vitor Roque is already forming part of Xavi Hernandez's first team squad at the Montjuic Stadium, Endrick will cross the Atlantic after turning 18 in July and complete a transfer worth over $60 million to Real Madrid.
Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that Endrick will not have to cut his teeth in the Castilla reserve outfit and will immediately be included in his senior team plans next season.
Though opinion in Brazil is split on which teenager is better, Endrick and Vitor Roque could one day light up El Clasico as two of the world's best targetmen if they fulfil their undoubted potential and live up to what is expected of them.
