6 months ago
13 It’s not been the best of seasons for either Barcelona or Atletico Madrid, and so the summer transfer market represents an ideal moment for the Spanish giants to take stock and seen what talent is available to strengthen their respective squads.
The Catalans, after winning the league last season, were a shadow of themselves for the majority of the 2023/24 campaign, and currently find themselves a whopping 17 points behind champions Real Madrid, with three games left to play.
Vitor Roque/Joao Felix swap deal mooted
Atleti are six points further back and have flattered to deceive for large parts of the season too.
Joao Felix was loaned to Barca by the Rojiblancos and has scored some vital goals this season, not least in both games against his parent club.
However, the Portuguese lacks consistency and can often find himself sat on the bench, even in the big games.
He’s been regularly joined there by winter signing, Vitor Roque, who has barely made an impression since signing.
Vitor Roque of Barcelona‘Tigrinho’ as he was known in Brazil, hasn’t really been given much of a chance to impress by Xavi, though when he has been let loose he has been disappointing.
According to Fichajes, the chance of a swap deal between the pair therefore exists, and it would mean that Atleti finally rid themselves of Joao Felix, whilst Barca can write off what was clearly a transfer mistake by them.

It isn’t clear who will have to carry the can for bringing the teenager to Catalonia, though apportioning blame is likely to be a futile exercise too.
What’s done is done, and the hope is that both clubs can still make the best of transfer scenarios that they probably didn’t expect.
