Barcelona have addressed a critical need for the future in finding their successor to Robert Lewandowski.
His name is Vitor Roque, an 18-year-old Brazilian who has taken over the Brasileirão, as the top goalscoring prospect in the nation. Barcelona got the deal done at €30 million, with an additional €30m in variables.
This may be the biggest signing the Blaugrana make this summer, and it’s a gamble the club felt it had to make to invest in the future.
Lewandowski was always a stop-gap to help Barca succeed in the present, and to instill much-needed professionalism and a winning pedigree in a young dressing room.