Chelsea join transfer battle to land 17 years old Brazilian wonderkid Vitor Roque from Athletico Paranaense
In the summer of 2022, Chelsea Football Club expressed interest in signing the highly touted Brazilian wonderkid Endrick. As one of the most sought-after talents in the world, the teenager had a long list of potential suitors, including Chelsea.
However, despite visiting the Blues’ Cobham training ground and meeting with the club, Endrick ultimately opted to sign with Real Madrid for a fee of €60 million (£51 million), which activated the release clause in his contract.
Despite missing out on Endrick, Chelsea did manage to sign another young Brazilian talent, Andrey Santos, in January. The midfielder, who joined from Vasco da Gama for £11 million, has been impressing scouts and fans alike as part of Brazil’s U20 squad in the South American Championship. Santos has scored in five of his six appearances and captained his nation in four games, helping secure Brazil’s place in this year’s U20 World Cup.
As the tournament continues, Chelsea’s recruitment team has been keeping a close eye on another rising star, Athletico Paranaense striker Vitor Roque. The 17-year-old has been in fine form, scoring six goals and attracting interest from several top teams across Europe. Spanish outlet AS (via Sport Witness ) reports that Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain have also expressed interest in the striker, but his £52.5 million release clause in his contract may prove to be a stumbling block.
Roque signed for Paranaense from Cruzeiro in 2021 for a club-record fee of £3.8 million (R$24 million), and the Brazilian club could be in line for a massive profit should one of Europe’s top teams make a move. While the player is said to prefer a move to Barcelona, the Catalan club’s financial difficulties may prevent them from paying over £50 million for a teenager.
In conclusion, Chelsea continues to show a commitment to securing young talent from Brazil and across the world, as part of their long-term vision for success.