Barcelona loanee Vitor Roque talks about treatment at club – 'I think he would have been treated differently'
Brazilian attack Victor Roque joined Real Betis on loan in August, left Barcelona on loan just seven months after being acquired from Athletico Paranaense for 30 million euros. The 19-year-old admitted he was just as baffled by her handling of him as the rest of the public.
The Blaugrana pushed through his transfer in January, but Roque has been given just two starts and just over 300 minutes to prove his worth in his first six months. He finished the season with two goals in 16 appearances, but Xavi Hernandez and Hansi Flick decided he was not worth a place in their team for this season. Roque has broken his silence on his spell at Barcelona for the first time.
“It was a little difficult for me. I had some opportunities, but not in the way I thought. My head is clear. Now I am focused on Betis and thanking God for the opportunity to bring it again the jersey of the national team,” Roque told the media, as quoted by AS Diary.
“I thought he was different, in the treatment and in the way he played, and in the way he talked to me about the table. But it's over,” explained Roque.
Pau Víctor: “My debut against Valencia? I will remember for the rest of my life with gratitude to Flick, who spoke to me from the first day and made it clear what he expected from me. @BarcaOneFCB pic.twitter.com/QvFVMTdGcg
— Barcacentre (@barcacentre) September 7, 2024
The forward played 82 minutes for Brazil's under-20 team during a 2-1 win over Mexico, wearing the captain's armband. Roque admitted that he had had mental help to solve his situation, but this was nothing new for him.
“I have always been in therapy, with a mental coach. He has always helped me, since the age of 16, when I also went through some obstacles. Today I try to do the same, he helped me a lot to overcome many obstacles”.
“When I left, I spoke. One of the first times… I tried to understand why many things are happening, which I did not say here. At Betis they welcomed me very well, I am very happy to be here and to have the opportunity to play here.”
Roque made his Betis debut against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu last weekend, playing 33 minutes. Manuel Pellegrini will have a lot of faith in him this season, with Chimy Avila, Cedric Bakambu, Aitor Ruibal and Juanmi are his competition for the place in front, but only the Congolese is a number nine in the classic sense.
