“I have had some bad moments there” - Barcelona flop Vitor Roque opens up on rushed La Liga switch, early struggle with the Catalan giants
Vitor Roque has acknowledged that his move to Barcelona may have been rushed. The Brazilian forward arrived at Camp Nou in January this year as one of the most exciting talents around.
However, he struggled to find his feet under former manager Xavi, and finished the campaign with two goals from 16 games. Vitor Roque ultimately left the Catalans on loan this summer to join Real Betis.
Speaking to SPORT, the 19-year-old insisted that he learnt a lot from his struggles at Camp Nou.
“Yes (joining Barcelona was rushed). The truth is that I was in Brazil and I didn’t know if I was going to come or not. I found out that I was going to come to Spain about a week before, I was on vacation, I didn’t know it," said Roque.
He continued:
"And when I arrived I had few opportunities, I didn’t have time to adapt either. The truth is that I have had some bad moments there, but they serve as a learning experience. I’m very happy to have been at Barcelona. The things I’ve learned there help me today and I’m very happy.”
Vitor Roque is slowly getting his act together at the Estadio Benito Villamarin and has registered five goals from 14 games for Real Betis this season.
Will Barcelona sign a new No. 9 in 2025?
Barcelona initially signed Vitor Roque as Robert Lewandowski's long-term replacement. While that didn't work out, the club are reportedly expected to continue their search for the Pole's successor in 2025.
Lewandowski has shown no signs of slowing down of late and has 19 goals from 17 games this season. His contract with the LaLiga giants expires at the end of this season. However, there's reportedly an automatic renewal clause that will be triggered if he registers a certain number of appearances.
The Pole has been an integral part of Hansi Flick's setup so far. However, the player will be 37 next August and it is vital for Barcelona to prepare for the future.
The Catalans will keep an eye on how Vitor Roque's loan deal progresses. While Erling Haaland is reported to be the club's dream choice for the job, their poor finances are likely to pose a problem.
Recent reports have suggested that the LaLiga giants have their eyes on Jonathan David, whose contract with Lille expires in just over six months.