Vitor Roque poses with the Barcelona jersey during his presentation. BRUNA CASAS (Portal)
The goal-saving hero they bring from Barcelona is barely 18 years old. It's Vítor Roque and he's coming as an early gift for Epiphany. A man, although due to his young age, a player in training, an enthusiast and a footballer with whom one promises to put an end to the lack of goals in a team in which Robert Lewandowski is lost in the corners of the goal since he only has eight in LaLiga Goals scored. But above all it is the hope of an attitude towards the lack of “soul” that Xavi Hernández suffered so much after the game against Almería. “You already know what the Brazilian players represent in this club. In addition to their quality and undeniable magic, they have that smile. Vitor Roque has what this world is sorely lacking: a positive attitude and a smile. I appreciate your commitment in these club days,” explained Rafa Yuste – vice president and head of player presentation and in the absence of Joan Laporta – after entering the pitch accompanied by the footballer.
“He is a competitive beast,” defined Xavi Vitor Roque. Despite announcing his signing in the summer, his arrival more than a week ago and his extreme registration for the game against Las Palmas, the Brazilian footballer was presented this Friday. A short and only act of order, because on Thursday he debuted with the Barça protection against García Pimienta's team, amid the uncertainty about the game of Barcelona and a narrow victory in the last minutes. Without Laporta, as Roque had slept for four hours under his father's watchful eye after the flight from the Canary Islands. “Debuting with the T-shirt is a dream come true that I have had since I was a child. All my colleagues received me very well. “I'm very happy,” Tigrinho said with a smile after signing the contract, the canvas with his name and the number 19 jersey next to sporting director Deco. The man Yuste praised for the work of bringing the young man to Ciutat Esportiva said: “None of this is a coincidence.”
It is no coincidence that Xavi decided to do without Lewandowski 20 minutes before the end of the game against Las Palmas. With alarm bells already ringing and the Barça coach demanding “respect” for the reigning champions, Barcelona couldn’t even settle for a draw. And without a single shot on goal at half-time, the Pole sat on the bench for Lamine Yamal. It wasn't a warning, said Xavi, but a simple act with which he didn't want to cause controversy: “He was substituted because we needed attackers who attacked behind the defense, like Vitor Roque or Ferran.” Something that the Valencian Player himself added: “The more competition, the better for the team, and also on an individual level.” A change that served as a prelude to what everyone had expected: the tiger roaring.
Vitor Roque came on for Ferran in the 78th minute. “Calm down, just play and score,” Xavi told his new player. He had several chances that made the culés smile – and even Lewandowski stood up to cheer him on from the touchline – forgetting for a few minutes how the rest of the team was playing and not playing. But the winning goal didn't come from his shoes. “When Gündogan scored the penalty goal, there was great camaraderie with all of his teammates, including Vitor. This is what Xavi meant by starting a family. And it's exactly what we want. We need this joy to make this club stronger and stronger,” Yuste concluded in front of Roque’s smile before giving him the FC Barcelona membership number.
“We believe in him a lot. He is very young, we have to give him time. “We hope he shows that he is a player who has a goal and has the characteristics of a striker,” Deco said before the game against Las Palmas. Vitor Roque landed in Barcelona on December 27th and began training under instructions that the 40 million euros from the investment fund Libero Football Finance AG did not arrive.
It came under one premise: 30 million euros plus 31 in variables for the striker from Athletico Paranense, where he scored 28 goals plus 11 assists in the 81 games played. He will be a FC Barcelona footballer until the 2030/31 season, hoping that his goalscoring and incisive skills will increase and he will become a key player over time. After the game against Las Palmas, the victory serves as a break from Xavi's footballing slump.
João Cancelo, with a strained knee ligament
João Cancelo has a strained medial ligament in his left knee and is lying low. He will therefore miss the Copa del Rey game against Barbastro and also the game against Osasuna in the Spanish Super Cup. Only a few minutes had passed since the game began. Cancelo fell to the ground after an accidental collision while trying to hit the ball at the same time as another player from the opposing team. He limped, left the field and the medical assistants bandaged his left knee. After a long few minutes with a minute less, the Portuguese winger came back but couldn't sprint without limping. And after he jumped back onto the field, Raphinha accompanied him to the band. As chaos wreaked havoc on the game, Las Palmas scored the first goal and Barça fell apart until they finally managed a comeback.
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