Man Utd make ‘first offer’ for Barcelona star as Laporta gives Red Devils asking price

Man Utd have had their first bid for Barcelona striker Vitor Roque turned down by the Catalan giants, according to reports.

It has been a frustrating season for the Brazilian after joining Brazilian side Athletico Paranaense in the 2023 summer transfer window, with Roque limited to just two starts in all competitions.

He could have better chances next season if he stays at Barcelona and appoints Hansi Flick as the new manager after Xavi left the club at the end of the season.

His lack of appearances last season led to reports linking him to Man Utd and his agent, André Cury, insisted in May that Roque deserved more minutes at the Camp Nou.

“I think Vitor Roque needs to get more minutes,” Cury said.

“No one understands why they don’t give him that. Xavi never spoke to the player, I don’t understand.

“(Roque) has to work and work harder, and wait for opportunities, but I think there have already been many, many games in which these minutes could have been given, so we wouldn’t need to talk about this question today.

“He is very strong mentally and physically, and has a bit of enthusiasm to show it because in the club and in the press there is a lot of nonsense talked about.

“Bad characters who say things that aren’t true. All this doesn’t help. Look what happened with Vinicius (Junior) at Real Madrid, it took him two seasons to play. Here in Barcelona, ​​the disorder was created in two months. People want to kill, not help.

New Men Utd co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made it clear that he wants the Red Devils to recruit younger players which are not yet the finished article to avoid past mistakes in the recruitment process.

Roque, 19, fits the bill for Man Utd and reports in Spain have indicated that the Red Devils have now made their “first offer” for the young Brazilian.

It is understood that Man Utd – who were interested in signing the striker before his move to Barcelona – “have not lost interest” in Roque and have now offered €35m.

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But Barcelona president Joan Laporta has rejected the offer as he wants to recoup the 60 million euros paid for the starlet and Flick has asked the La Liga side to “study” any loan offer they would get for the attacker.

With Man Utd unlikely to pay that much for another unproven talent, a ‘loan loan will be sought to allow him to build up experience and get back into competitive rhythm’.