Barcelona manager, Xavi Hernandez has reportedly stated that he did not want the club to sign Vitor Roque during his pre-match press conference ahead of La Liga clash with Almeria on Thursday.
At the beginning of 2024, Roque arrived in Catalonia after Barca and Athletico Paranaense reached an agreement for a summer transfer. Should the forward meet several targets, he could be worth €60 million.
As things stand, this doesn’t seem likely because Xavi has only allowed the Brazilian to play 310 minutes of football. According to Forbes, AS correspondent Javi Miguel says Xavi doesn’t think the player is at “Barca level” yet.
When asked why the teenager’s life has gone as it has so far, Xavi stated on Wednesday that Roque was supposed to remain in his native country and “keep growing”.
“The option [to bring him in January] opened up [because of] injuries to Gavi and [Alejandro] Balde.
“For his training, we thought it was the best thing to do. There is a debate that, to me, makes no sense. He’s a player who’s developing.
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“There are players who are ahead of him, that’s how I understand it. He’s spent his whole life with young footballers,” Xavi added.
These remarks, which essentially amount to Xavi conceding that he didn’t want Vitor Roque this season, coincide with a report from Carrusel Deportivo indicating that the forward will be sent out, ideally on loan. This is because the club doesn’t have room for him in their 2024–2025 plans.
COMMENTS
Xavi is not serious, was he not part of the people shouting about the quality of the boy, now he didn’t want him in the first place. Rubbish
Xavi should get out, I don’t know why they didn’t sack him