Vitor Roque frustrated with his treatment at Barca
Brazil U-20 captain speaks for the first time about the few opportunities at the Catala club and reveals conversation before leaving for Betis: “One of the first times…”
His usual easy smile didn’t stop Vitor Roque from giving firm answers. Captain of the U -20 team that beat Mexico on Thursday night , the number 9 knew that the microphones in front of him wanted to hear more about Barcelona than the match at São Januário. And he didn’t shy away from the topic.
Loaned to Betis after months of few opportunities and many questions in Catalonia, the former Athletico-PR player admitted his frustration. Not only because he played so little (16 games, only two as a starter), but mainly because of the way he experienced these eight months at Barcelona.
— It was a bit complicated for me. I had some opportunities, but not in the way I thought I would. I have peace of mind. Now I am focused on Betis , and I always thank God for the opportunity to wear the national team shirt here once again.
“I think it was complicated overall. I thought it would be different, both in the treatment, in the way I played, and in the board talking to me. But it passed, I’m happy to have the opportunity at Betis and to be wearing the national team shirt again,” Roque confided.
Whether it was with Xavi or more recently with Hansi Flick, the 19-year-old, who left Brazil as a gem and was called up to the senior national team, was left out of the plans. The difference in reality that Vitor Roque says he has faced well thanks to psychological help outside the club:
— I’ve always had therapy, I’ve always had a mental coach. It’s always helped me, since I was 16, when I went through some obstacles too. It’s always helped me. Today I try to do it too, it’s helped me a lot when I went through several obstacles.
The attention he expected to have received in the moments when he was not used, Vitor Roque said he received when he left. Barcelona, in turn, is in the past, and the focus is on Betis, who have the option to buy for 25 million euros at the end of the 2024/25 season.
— When I left, I did talk, yes. One of the first times… I tried to understand why so many things were happening, which are not worth talking about here . They welcomed me very well, I am very happy to be there and to have the opportunity to play for Betis.
With only a few days at Betis, he has already played 33 minutes on the pitch against Real Madrid last weekend. A fresh start for someone who exchanged distrust in Spain for the prestige of the captain’s armband in the U-20 team.
South American champion in 2023 under Ramon’s command, Vitor Roque will be on the field again on Sunday, against Mexico, at 6:30 pm (Brasília time), in São Januário.
