Barcelona brought in Vitor Roque with much fanfare last winter, but nine months later, the Brazilian forward finds himself on loan at Real Betis. The nineteen-year-old striker admits that his first period in Catalonia did not go as expected.
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Despite financial difficulties, Barça made a bold move in January by investing thirty million euros to secure the signature of Vitor Roque, a promising young Brazilian striker who had already made a name for himself with 28 goals at Athletico Paranaense.
Roque, affectionately known as "El Tigrinho," was expected to inject much-needed firepower into the Catalan attack. His arrival was met with great enthusiasm, and his early performances seemed to justify the hype. In his first five matches, he managed to score two goals, hinting at a bright future at the club.
However, things did not unfold as anticipated. After his initial promising start, Roque's form dipped, and he struggled to make the impact that both the club and the fans had hoped for. The goals dried up, and soon, the young striker found himself sidelined more often than not. Despite the considerable investment in his talents, Barça began to reconsider his role within the team as the summer transfer window approached.
The club, still dealing with its financial troubles, considered selling Roque, but finding a buyer willing to match the €30 million they had spent proved difficult. With no viable transfer offers on the table, Barcelona sought an alternative solution: a loan spell. Real Betis stepped in, offering Roque the chance to regain form and playing time. The loan move, while unexpected for Roque, was seen as a temporary fix. Although Barça retained the right to buy him back, Betis secured an option to make the deal permanent if Roque impressed during his time there.
For Roque, the loan was a reality check. In an interview with the Spanish sports daily AS, he opened up about his struggles at Barcelona. "I had expected things to go differently," he said. "Both in terms of how I was treated, the style of play, and the way the management talked about me." Roque had hoped for more playing time under former coach Xavi, but the now-departed manager mostly used him as a substitute, leaving Roque frustrated and searching for answers. "I tried to understand why things happened the way they did, but I’m not going to talk about that here."
Roque acknowledged that the situation had been difficult for him, both mentally and professionally. However, with the help of a mental coach, he has learned to handle setbacks better. The 19-year-old striker now sees his time at Betis as an opportunity to reset his career and prove his worth. "It’s been tough, but my mind is clear now. I’m focused on Betis, and they’ve welcomed me very well. I’m happy to be here and grateful for the opportunity to play."
The move to Betis might be exactly what Roque needs to rebuild his confidence and reignite his career. If he can rediscover the form that made him such a coveted talent in Brazil, the loan could turn into a permanent deal. Should that happen, Barcelona would still hold a buy-back clause, allowing them to re-sign Roque if he flourishes in Seville. For now, though, Roque is determined to make the most of his new environment and focus on his development away from the pressures of the Camp Nou.
As Barça continues to navigate its financial challenges, Roque’s story highlights the club’s ongoing struggle to balance long-term investments with immediate success on the pitch.
Updated: 07:55, 7 Sep 2024
