As the dust settles on Barcelona’s pre-season tour in the United States, one question remains as murky as a foggy London evening: What on earth is going on with Victor Roque?
Victor Roque’s situation at Barcelona has all the clarity of a Picasso painting—interpretations abound but coherent answers are scarce. The Brazilian wunderkind, who arrived with a princely price tag of 30 million euros plus 31 in variables, finds himself a pawn in a game of strategy that even Sherlock Holmes would find perplexing.
Despite his stellar track record at Athletico Paranaense, Roque has had a rocky start at Barca. The young forward, who signed a contract until 2031, has found it harder to get game time than a vegan at a barbecue. Neither Xavi nor the current gaffer, Flick, have given him a consistent run in the team. The pre-season tour was supposed to be his stage, but alas, it turned out to be more of a rehearsal than a performance.
In the three pre-season matches in the US, Roque’s appearances were fleeting. He started against Manchester City, playing 45 minutes, and then became a glorified bench-warmer against Real Madrid and AC Milan, getting just 13 minutes in each game. If you blinked, you might have missed him. Pau Víctor seems to have capitalized on this, inching ahead in the pecking order, leaving Roque to contemplate his future.
Roque’s struggles aren’t new. Last season, he played in 16 matches but only two as a starter. He’s yet to complete a full 90 minutes in Barca’s jersey. Even in the Champions League, he was as visible as a ghost, not playing a single minute. One wonders if he’s spending more time polishing the bench than kicking the ball.
The lad is crying out for more pitch time, and rightly so. His agent, Andre Cury, has packed his bags for Barcelona to hash things out with Deco. If this summit doesn’t yield results, Roque might be packing his bags too, possibly for a loan or even a transfer. His situation is as uncertain as the British weather.
So, what’s next for Victor Roque? Will he carve his niche at Barca, or will he move on to pastures new? His journey is one to watch, a footballing soap opera that keeps fans on the edge of their seats. For now, though, Roque remains an enigma, a riddle wrapped in a Barca jersey.
Source(s): La Gira USA del Barça no despeja el ‘caso Vitor Roque’
Passionate culé from Spain with an encyclopedic knowledge of FC Barcelona. My blog posts are your one-stop shop for the latest Barça news, juicy gossip, and transfer rumors. Visca Barça!