The 18-year-old Vitor Roque was acquired by the Spanish powerhouse Barcelona on July 12 from the Brazilian team Athletico Paranaense, know the meaning of his nickname
The Brazilian player signed with the La Liga team from the 2024–25 season, and his deal will keep him on the team through the end of the 2030–31 season. His contract also has a £427 million ($555 million) release clause.
What is the meaning of Tigrinho nickname of Vitor Roque and why is he called so
Vitor Roque (18) as a professional player:
⚔️ 83 games (49 starts)
⚽️ 28 goals
🅰️ 10 assists
⏰ A goal involvement every 123 mins
👟 108 shots (54 on goal)
🔄 76 successful dribbles
👊 145 fouls won
🥊 8 penalties won
💯 Average Sofascore rating 6.80.TIGRINHO 🐅 pic.twitter.com/z4CSRUwWsf
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) July 12, 2023
The SportsGrail dives deeper into the new Barcelona player, his well-known moniker, and what he might add to the Blaugrana when he joins the Catalan team.
Who is Vitor Roque?
One of Brazil’s brightest emerging talents, Roque was born on February 28, 2005, and many people believe he will have a successful career. Raphinha, a fellow countryman and future teammate, called him a “high-quality footballer.”
Roque was acquired by Athletico Paranaense from Cruzeiro in April 2022 for a club-record £3.8 million (£4.9 million) on a five-year deal. In South America, he persisted in impressing, which sparked Barcelona’s interest and subsequent move.
Roque became the youngest player to ever make a senior national team debut for Brazil in March 2023. He was selected by interim coach Ramon Menezes for that friendly match against Morocco, starting in place of Rodrygo for 25 minutes of a 2-1 defeat.
Why is Vitor Roque referred to as “Tigrinho”?
Roque has only recently started competing professionally in Brazil, but he has already acquired a moniker from his home country’s supporters: “Trigrinho.” His father, Juvenal Ferreira, was a local amateur player known by the moniker “Tigrao,” which translates to “big tiger.” Roque is therefore referred to as “Trigrinho” due to both his stature and playing style as well as the fact that he is the “big tiger’s son.”
Roque, who stands 5 feet 9 inches tall, is a brave and explosive player on the pitch. Despite the fact that he is still a young child and could yet develop, the ‘Trigrinho’ name fits with his stature and skills.
Transfer cost for Vitor Roque
Due to intense competition, it was difficult for Barcelona to sign Roque. According to reports, the youngster also piqued the curiosity of other Premier League clubs. According to reports, the 2022/23 La Liga winners would pay £25.6 million ($33.2 million) upfront for Roque and a further £26.4 million ($34.3 million) in potential add-ons if the 18-year-old achieves specific objectives.
In contrast, Neymar was acquired by Barcelona for £49 million ($76.7 million) and Vinicius Junior by Real Madrid for £38 million ($49 million). They were both acquired through the Brazilian league.
What position does Vitor Roque play?
Every manager seeks a goal-scoring striker, and Roque can provide Xavi with just that at the start of the 2024–25 campaign. In 66 games for Athletico Paranaense, Roque has scored 22 goals. He also tied for the most goals in the 2023 Under-20 South American Championship. Additionally, his goal-scoring last year helped his team advance to the Copa Libertadores final.
Roque’s versatility across the frontline and his ability to function as a second striker are also advantages for Xavi. Although he primarily plays as the main center-forward, when he finally joins the team, his versatility may allow him to see more action.
Barcelona new star Vitor Roque vs Real Madrid new star Endrick
Roque is not the first prominent young Brazilian to sign with a La Liga powerhouse. At the beginning of the 2024–25 season, Endrick, 16, will also start his professional career in Spain after Real Madrid shockingly paid £61.7 million ($80.1 million).
Here is how the two strikers’ careers to date compare:
| Vitor Roque | Endrick | |
| Age | 18 | 16 |
| Position | Striker | Striker |
| Club appearances | 87 | 51 |
| Goals | 29 | 19 |
| Transfer fee | £25.6m ($33.2m) | £61.7m ($80.1m) |
| Brazil appearances | 1 | 0 |