THE FUSE

Barcelona are watching with interest the developments in the transfer movements of several English clubs, hoping to secure a significant financial return from the sale of one of their former players, who left the club around two years ago but could return to the spotlight in the January transfer window.

Vitor Roque never cracked it at the Camp Nou, and Barcelona let him go. But the Catalans are now watching the transfer market closely, hoping to cash in on a clause that entitles them to a share of any future sale of the Brazilian striker. He had arrived in 2023 under Xavi Hernandez for 30 million euros. Appearances proved scarce, so the club loaned him to Betis after Flick took charge, then sold him permanently to Palmeiras.

Manchester United have joined the queue of clubs chasing the Palmeiras striker, according to a report from British website TEAMtalk and relayed by Spanish newspaper Sport. Everton, Chelsea and Tottenham are also tracking the player. All four are working to contact the striker's circle and establish what it would take to get a deal done in January.

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Andre Cury, the player's agent, confirmed Everton's interest in his client. He also flagged interest from several European clubs, without naming the rest of the suitors.

Barcelona awaiting 10 million euros

Palmeiras won't give up one of their brightest talents cheaply. The 21-year-old is tied to the Brazilian club until December 2029, and his employers have set 50 million euros as the floor before they'll even open talks over his exit.

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That figure matters enormously in Catalonia. When they sold Roque to Palmeiras, Barcelona kept the right to a percentage of any subsequent transfer. The deal was worth 25.5 million euros fixed plus further variables, and the agreement included a clause handing them 20% of any future sale that exceeds 41 million euros.

Do the maths and a 50 million euro move would earn Barcelona 10 million euros. That is money the club could use to recoup part of what they spent on the Brazilian, even if his spell with the first team at the Camp Nou never took off.

Deco, Barcelona's sporting director, is keeping a close eye on the interest building around the player. He was one of the loudest voices backing Roque's signing before the move fizzled out unexpectedly.

Roque has rediscovered some of his spark at Palmeiras. Even so, the Brazilian club have yet to receive a confirmed official offer, and January remains the likeliest window for the interested parties to pounce, should one of them agree to meet the asking price.

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journalism and writing are a passion before they are a profession. Since taking my first steps down this path in late 2010, I have been weaving my stories across the pages of Egyptian and Arab websites. I don’t view sports in general—and soccer in particular—as merely a game, but rather as a canvas of life that reflects the pulse of societies and carries within it social and cultural stories that intertwine with the threads of politics to shape people’s consciousness.

I delve into covering and analyzing soccer from multiple angles: I cover the game from multiple angles where storytelling meets analysis, and where the pitch connects to broader social and cultural narratives.

Over time and as my experience grew, my passion expanded to draw connections between the economics of the game, modern technology, and cryptocurrencies—all of which have become part of a soccer industry that extends far beyond the boundaries of the field.

My experience has spanned several prominent Arab outlets: in Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, such as Goal (Saudi edition) and Koora, where I have worked as a multi-tasking desk editor since 2019."I don't just cover stories, I find them where others aren't looking, then reshape them until they're worth reading.

with analytical depth and a human touch to deliver an unforgettable story to the reader.

My Story with Soccer

My passion for soccer began early, specifically at the age of six during the 1994 World Cup. The atmosphere at home was different; the whole family was awake to watch the matches even though they were broadcast at dawn, and that is where my true passion was born. I was captivated by Romário’s mesmerizing skills, amazed by Thomas Brulin, and impressed by the physical and technical prowess of the Nigerian national team led by the late Rashidi Yakini, while the image of Roberto Baggio missing his penalty kick in the final remains etched in my memory as the first dramatic moment I experienced with the game.

As the years passed and my fascination with international soccer grew, certain matches remained defining moments in my football education, such as the 2001 UEFA Cup final between Liverpool and Spain’s Alavés—that wild 5-4 clash whose intensity didn’t subside until the 117th minute, when an own goal sealed the title for the Reds, cementing it in my memory as an unforgettable match.

My Best Soccer Memories

Unforgettable moments include Real Madrid’s 2002 Champions League victory, Liverpool’s historic 2005 final, and Egypt’s 2006, 2008, and 2010 African Cup of Nations triumphs under Hassan Shehata.

My All-Time Team

Buffon

Cafu - Paolo Maldini - Ramos - Roberto Carlos

Zinedine Zidane - Iniesta

Diego Maradona

Lionel Messi - Ronaldo “The Phenomenon” - Cristiano Ronaldo

My Favorite Articles:

The Ronaldo Mystery... Death in a Foreign Land!

Third dimension.. Barefoot... Has Messi Really Settled

The Debate Over the Greatest of All Time?

(2) Messi Chases Pelé... Has the Debate Over the Greatest of All Time Really Been Settled?

Third dimension: The Terrifying Test... Salah Inherits the Crown of the Seven Years