Player of the month

October

October was a good month for Abel Ferreira and for Palmeiras. Ultimately though it was two players in particular that caught the eye. Jose Lopez got four league goals in the month of October but trumping him was his strike partner Vitor Roque, and he is our player of the month this time.

Roque’s and Lopez’ nine goals in that month saw The Palm trees reclaim top spot as we hurtle further towards the conclusion of this season. As of writing they still sit top of the tree, with six games to go.

Roque got five goals, in October and really showed what he’s about. The 20-year old is a real “fox in the box” with each of those five goals coming within the penalty area, a highlight was his solo goal against Bragantino, taking on three defenders before coolly slotting the ball past the keeper. He has continued his goal scoring form into November as well, with three goals in his three games so far. Roque now has sixteen league goals for the season and he will have hoped with that to finally put behind him that failed move to Barcalona in early 2024.

Disappointingly for Roque he only played sixteen times for Barca before going on loan to Real Betis in August 2024 for half a season, where he did slightly better, scoring four league goals in twenty-two league games. He scored a further three goals in the cup and then made the move back to Brazil with Palmeiras. On the whole it is looking like a good choice. We have to remember that Vitor is still only 20 years of age and he is still developing but this Serie A season looks to be his break out, and if his team can end it with a double and Roque continues to find the net, then surely he might find himself in the conversation again for a move to one of European’s elite leagues, and with the World Cup on the horizon, as we have talked about before, he may well find himself involved next summer in Ancelotti’s plans.

For now though Roque must focus on domestic and continental matters as he looks to fire Palmeiras to a fantastic double to end the season on a high.