Club president gives Man Utd and Arsenal hope of signing 'the new Neymar'

Athletico Paranaense’s president admitted that Arsenal and Manchester United target Vitor Roque is likely to leave for Europe.

Brazilian 17-year-old star Roque, who is being dubbed the "new Neymar", has produced a string of impressive performances for Athletico in the past season and a half.

The teenager’s goalscoring exploits in the Copa Libertadores in particular have seen him attract attention from Europe’s biggest clubs, including Arsenal, Man Utd, Newcastle United, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.

Whoever lands the Brazilian will have to pay a substantial fee, however. Brazilian publication Globo Esporte has claimed Athletico want more than £40 million for Roque, having already turned down a £22million bid from an unnamed European club.

However, Athletico, who signed a 16-year-old Roque for a club record £4.15 million from Cruzeiro, have admitted that the player is likely to leave for a European club in the near future.

Roque to move to the Premier League?

Athletico president Mario Celso Petraglia admitted that Roque is likely to leave for Europe and that there is a race for the teenager’s signature.

Petraglia told Globo Esporte: “There’s a race for Vitor Roque. We cannot afford to pay what the Europeans pay.

“We’ve already received calls and offers, but they didn’t reach our number. (The sale) is still a long way off.”

Man Utd are said to be interested in the youngster, while GOAL have claimed Arsenal’s sporting director Edu Gaspar has been in talks with Roque’s representatives.

On the matter of Roque’s departure, former Brazil boss Luiz Felipe Scolari, now a director for Athletico, said via HITC: “Vitor will probably be sold.

“He’s 17 years old and has a lot to learn on the pitch. But he’s been playing in the Campeonato Brasileiro and the Copa Libertadores since he was 16. He’s a 17-year-old boy with the brain and experience of a 24 or 25-year-old.

“He’s ready. When (a club) comes up with enough money, I think we will sell.”

In his 36 senior games for Athletico Roque has netted seven times.