FC Barcelona will be facing Porto tonight in the second Champions League group stage match. The protagonists for tonight’s match are two old football clubs from the Iberian peninsula, who have had some shared memories and experiences in the past.
There are also some players who have played for both these clubs, and one such former player is Aloisio Pires, who joined Porto after spending two years at Barcelona. At Barcelona, he came on the express wish of Johan Cruyff and also went on to become the captain of La Blaugrana.
Praise for Roque
Pires talked to SPORT recently, in which he touched upon different aspects of the club. He is currently operating as an agent and is considered an expert on young Brazilian talent. Thus, he is particularly suited to comment on Vitor Roque’s situation, whom Barcelona has already signed:
“Vitor is a very young boy. He is very strong, finishes very well, and has a lot of power. Even though he is not tall, he is good in aerial play; he is very complete. He uses both legs, and excels in one-on-one situations. He is among the best in his age group. If Barça has signed him, it’s for a reason, and I believe he will succeed; he is very competitive.”
Raphinha always aimed big
Pires talked about another Brazilian Barcelona player Raphinha during this media appearance. Regarding the winger, Pires said:
“I met him when he was a kid. He played for a club in Rio Grande do Sul where I was a director. He was already showing signs of something big. I hope he comes back in top form after the injury.”
Pires words definitely hold some weight as he is an expert on Brazilian youth, and his comments on Roque would certainly be encouraging for Barcelona. However, the player is currently out with an injury, and it remains to be seen how he will adapt to Europe once he arrives in Barcelona this January.
