On Monday, Barcelona made official the departure of Vitor Roque, who has joined Real Betis on an initial one-year loan. The 19-year-old striker could have this temporary agreement extended by a further 12 months, while there is also an option to buy for Los Verdiblancos.
Roque’s seven-month spell at Barcelona between January and August was incredibly difficult. He struggled for prominence under previous manager Xavi Hernandez, and despite the hope of a fresh start under Hansi Flick, he was cast aside early on. This led to a departure being inevitable.
Roque had his final training appearance as a Barcelona player in the days before his arrival at Betis. MD reported that he became overwhelmed during the session, and subsequently broke down in tears. He had to be comforted by Flick and some of his teammates, before returning to the changing rooms.
Vitor Roque broke down in tears during his final training session. Everything he had been going through was building up, and he just couldn't hold it in any longer. @Mariio_RB
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) August 27, 2024
It’s hard not to feel sorry for Roque. He arrived in January with so much promise, but his time at Barcelona (so far) has proven to be disastrous. The move to Betis allows him to get things back on track.
