When Barça announced the signing of Vitor Roque, the noise was immediate. The fans saw him as the new great scorer, and the media compared him to legends like Romário or Luis Suárez. However, there was one internal voice that didn't get carried away by the euphoria: Xavi Hernández's.
From day one, the Catalan coach called for caution. He considered that the young Brazilian wasn't ready to compete at the highest level. Neither physically nor mentally.
Vitor Roque with Barça | @vitor_roque9
A Bet That Never Convinced Xavi
Barça spent more than 30 million euros to bring him from Athletico Paranaense. The goal was clear: to develop the next leading figure in attack. But Xavi made it clear in private and in his decision-making: he didn't have the level to play at Camp Nou.
Vitor Roque barely had minutes with the first team, and when he did, he didn't leave a mark. Xavi didn't see him as ready and kept him in the background. The criticism didn't take long, accusing the coach of hindering his progress, but in the end, he was true to his intuition.
Xavi with Barça | @FCBarcelona
With Xavi's departure and Flick's arrival, many thought something would change. The new coach also opted to loan him, this time to Real Betis. The idea was clear: to gain minutes and confidence.
But in Seville, exactly the same thing happened, Manuel Pellegrini didn't give him prominence either. The Brazilian failed to adapt or make a difference at Benito Villamarín. At Betis, he accumulated very few minutes, the same pattern repeated: low performance, little confidence, and scarce influence in the game.
Vitor Roque celebrating a goal with Betis | @vitor_roque9
Europe Closes Its Doors and He Returns to Brazil
The loan to Betis was the last attempt before making a definitive decision. Barça decided to sell him to Palmeiras. Thus, a very short chapter in European soccer closed discreetly.
The return to his country hasn't been the desired boost either. At Palmeiras, he hasn't achieved continuity. Even Brazilian coaches don't trust him as a key player.
His entourage calls for patience. They remind that he is young and still has room for growth. But the reality is clear: he is far from what was expected.
Uncertain Future for Vitor Roque | @FCBarcelona
Xavi's Analysis Makes Perfect Sense
Xavi Hernández never let himself be blinded by the investment or the expectations. He was one of the few who called for calm. And over time, his stance has been confirmed as correct.
The coach avoided unnecessary exposure of the player, chose to protect the team, and not rush. Now, seeing the results, his decision is seen as the most sensible. Many criticized him at the time, today, the facts prove him right.
Xavi Hernández | @FCBarcelona
Can Vitor Roque Reinvent Himself? Will He Have Another Opportunity in Europe? The doubts are on the table.
For now, the signing has been a disappointment. Barça bet big and the return has been nil. Laporta and Deco admit it was a miscalculation.
Time will tell if he can reverse his situation. But for now, the only clear thing is that Xavi saw it coming from the beginning. And, this time, his intuition was more accurate than the widespread enthusiasm.
