Ahead of the Almería-Barça match this Thursday, where the Catalans can extend their lead over Girona by four points, Xavi Hernández was asked about the situation of Vitor Roque, who has only played 312 minutes.
The Barcelona coach explained that the Brazilian forward is still in his adaptation process and noted that if he arrived in the winter market, it was because he was already secured and a gap in La Liga’s salary ‘fair play’ opened up due to Gavi’s severe injury.
“The intention was not for Vitor to come in December, but rather that he would stay there. The option opened up with Gavi’s injury. For his development, we believed it was best, and so we had the option to bring him in for his training and to see what the club was like,” Xavi began to explain.
The Barça coach elaborated on the reasons for his limited presence in the team:
“There is a debate that, for me, makes no sense. He is a player in training. There are players who are ahead of him, and that’s why he plays less, that’s how I see it. He has spent his whole life with young players.”
It is also worth noting that the day before visiting Girona he was at home with a fever, and on the eve of last Monday’s match against Real Sociedad, he had discomfort in his ankle.
