There are only ten days left till the winter transfer market closes, and FC Barcelona have made only one change in their squad in this window up to now, i.e., the incorporation of Vitor Roque.
The Brazilian arrived at the Catalan club with much fanfare and very high expectations. Culers were expecting the striker to come and play an important role for the rest of the season, especially as Robert Lewandowski was not having a particularly good season.
However, Roque has had a slow start to his Barcelona career. He made his debut in the game against UD Las Palmas only a few days after arriving at the club and also got some minutes in the cup game against Barbastro. However, he did not play even a single minute in the Spanish Super Cup matches in Saudi Arabia.
The Brazilian returned to the field in the last match against Unionistas de Salamanca, and as SPORT has reported, Xavi explained the reasons for Roque’s absence from some recent matches, and once against showed his confidence in the striker’s abilities:
“He wasn’t injured; he had a slight discomfort in the thigh, and we preferred to rest him. The other day, he was very good. He is fast and can go deep. He is already at one hundred percent and available; now it depends on us to make him play. He’s a player who can give us things.”
The coaching staff is planning to give prominence to Roque in a gradual manner. The fact that he is still only 18 years of age, and has only returned from a serious injury warrants a patient approach from Barcelona towards the player.
Furthermore, the youngster would also need some time to adapt to a new country and club, and thus Barcelona have decided not to rush anything with the Brazilian forward.
