Vitor Roque nickname: Why do they call new Barcelona signing Tigrinho?

On July 12 Spanish giants Barcelona announced the signing of 18-year-old Vitor Roque from Brazilian club Athletico Paranaense.

The Brazilian player is expected to join the La Liga side ahead of the 2024/25 season, with his contract lasting until the end of the 2030/31 campaign. There is also a £427m ($555m) release clause in his contract.

Roque helped Brazil win the Under-20 South American Championship earlier in 2023. That victory helped them qualify for the Under-20 World Cup, where they were knocked out in the quarterfinals by Israel.

The Sporting News takes a deeper look into Barcelona's new signing, his popular nickname, and what he could bring to the Catalan club when he finally joins the Blaugrana.

Who is Vitor Roque?

Roque, born on February 28, 2005, is one of Brazil's most promising young stars and he has been backed by many to achieve plenty of success in his career. His compatriot and future team-mate Raphinha described him as a "high-quality footballer."

Athletico Paranaense signed Roque in April 2022 for a club-record £3.8m (£4.9m) on a five-year contract from Brazilian side Cruzeiro. He continued to impress in South America, leading to the interest from Barcelona and subsequent transfer.

Roque made his debut for the Brazil senior national team in March 2023 when he became the country's youngest ever debutant. Interim coach Ramon Menezes called him up for that friendly against Morocco, where he played 25 minutes as Rodrygo's replacement in a 2-1 loss.

MORE: Barcelona squad 2023/24 players, contracts for La Liga club

Why do they call Vitor Roque 'Tigrinho'?

During his short time on the professional stage in Brazil, Roque has already earned himself a nickname, referred to as 'Trigrinho' by fans in his native country.

His father, Juvenal Ferreira, was an amateur player in the country and had the nickname 'Tigrao', which means 'big tiger'.

Roque is therefore called 'Trigrinho' given he is the 'big tiger's son, but also because of his own stature and play style.

Roque is 5 feet, 9 inches tall and is an explosive and fearless player on the pitch. Although he could still grow due to his young age, his size and abilities line up with the 'Trigrinho' name.

MORE: When do Barcelona face Real Madrid during the 2023/24 season?

Vitor Roque transfer fee

Signing Roque was not an easy thing to do for Barcelona as they faced a lot of competition. It is reported that multiple Premier League clubs were also very interested in acquiring the youngster.

The 2022/23 La Liga champions will reportedly pay £25.6m ($33.2m) up front for Roque, and another £26.4m ($34.3m) in potential add-ons for the 18-year-old if he meets certain goals.

In comparison, Real Madrid signed Vinicius Junior for £38m ($49m) in 2017, while Barcelona signed Neymar for £49m ($76.7m). Both players were signed from the Brazilian league.

What position does Vitor Roque play?

Every manager is looking for a striker who can score goals, and that is exactly what Roque can do for Xavi at the start of the 2024/25 season.

Roque has scored 22 goals in 66 appearances for Athletico Paranaense and he also finished as joint-top scorer in the 2023 Under-20 South American Championship. His finishing also helped his side reach the Copa Libertadores final last season.

Another bonus for Xavi is that Roque can play anywhere across the frontline and also as a second striker. Although he primarily plays as the main centre-forward, his versatility can give him more game time when he finally joins the club.

Vitor Roque vs Endrick

Roque is not the only big name youngster from Brazil to secure a move to a La Liga giant.

Endrick, 16, signed with Real Madrid for an astonishing £61.7m ($80.1m) and will also start his career in Spain at the beginning of the 2024/25 season.

Here is how the two strikers compare so far in their careers: