The last two goals in Bayern Munich’s 8-2 thrashing of Barcelona in the 2020 Champions League quarter-final cut deeper than the first half-dozen.
Not only did they tip the scoreline from humbling to humiliating, but Philippe Coutinho, on loan from Barcelona at the time, was the painful scorer.
Three years later, Barcelona have indirectly suffered after yet another loan deal was signed without the all-important clause prohibiting the player from featuring against their parent club.
Nicolas Hernandez came charging out of Internacional’s backline within the opening seven minutes of a Brazilian top-flight game against his permanent employers Athletico Paranaense in September. The centre-back lunged into a two-footed tackle on Vitor Roque – who agreed on a future move to Barcelona in the summer – forcing Athletico’s star striker off on a stretcher.
Here’s everything you need to know about Roque’s injury and how it may impact his move to Catalonia.
Hernandez feverishly pleaded his case to the referee after propelling himself into Roque. Despite the defender’s protestations, Hernandez connected with Roque’s left leg rather than the ball. However, the damage was done to Roque’s right ankle, which was forced into an unnatural bend under his own weight.
Immediately after the match on 21 September, Athletico’s coach Wesley Carvalho would only cautiously offer: “The medical department will evaluate the time to return. It is still very early. The ankle suffered more damage.”
Xavi Hernandez, in charge of the Barcelona team that Roque will join at some time in 2024, confirmed that the La Liga champions are “in permanent contact with doctors in Brazil”.
Former Barcelona academy graduate Bojan Krkic was appointed as the club’s “soccer area co-ordinator” in September after announcing his retirement last season.
Xavi deferred to his former teammate, saying: “Let’s see. Bojan will be in charge from now on, of monitoring players on loan or with repurchase options.”
Initial reports suggest that Roque could be out for as long as three months. The Brazilian top flight concludes on 3 December – ten-and-a-half weeks after Athletico’s number nine was carried off the pitch.
Athletico are embroiled in a crowded scrap for qualification to the Copa Libertadores – the South American equivalent of the Champions League. If the early diagnosis is correct, Roque could miss the final 14 matches of the season. Not only would it be a blow to Athletico’s aspirations, but it may also impact Roque’s arrival at Barcelona.
𝖳 𝖧 𝖤
𝖡 𝖫 𝖠 𝖴 𝖦 𝖱 𝖠 𝖭 𝖠
𝖯 𝖫 𝖠 𝖭 𝖤 𝖳 🐅 pic.twitter.com/ttHvYSOLrU— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 12, 2023
The official club release that accompanied the announcement of a £34m deal for Roque in July revealed: “The player is expected to join the Club for the 2024/25 season and will sign a contract until the 2030/31 season.”
However, Xavi was operating under the assumption that Roque would arrive in Barcelona during the winter transfer window of the current campaign (2023/24).
“Deco [Barcelona’s sporting director] tells me he will come in January,” Xavi revealed.
Athletico CEO Alexandre Mattos also underscored this timeline, explaining during the summer: “He will leave in January, that was the pact with Barca and it will be respected. We need him for the final 20 games and to qualify for the 2024 Copa Libertadores.”
How many of those remaining Athletico matches Roque will play is very much up in the air. If the striker is still sidelined by injury when January rolls around, Barcelona may be inclined to let Roque recover in Brazil before taking part in a full pre-season with the club ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
The time in the treatment room will give Roque ample opportunity to continue studying Spanish and Catalan, which he is trying to master before his arrival. ‘Tobillo’ – ankle – would be an important word to learn.
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