In a shocking twist, Joan Fontes has revealed that when Vitor Roque arrived at Barcelona, Xavi’s employees initially warned that that they had signed a participant who won’t meet expectations, referring to him as a ‘bust’.
Regardless of this inside concern, the membership publicly promoted the narrative that Xavi and his employees had been captivated with Roque’s potential.
Internally, Xavi’s employees gave Roque the nickname ‘Roquembach’. This was a playful however telling reference to Fabio Rochemback, a former Brazilian participant who had performed alongside Xavi at Barcelona and was identified for his subpar efficiency.
This nickname hinted on the teaching employees’s doubts about Roque’s talents from the beginning.
La Masia gamers had been in shock to see Roque
Moreover, from the attitude of La Masia, the place Barcelona’s future stars are groomed, there have been rapid considerations about Roque’s technical abilities.
Gamers and coaches noticed deficiencies throughout coaching periods, which solely bolstered the preliminary doubts.
Vitor Roque by no means slot in at Barcelona. (Photograph by David Ramos/Getty Photos)
Including to the complexity of the scenario, a journalist was inspired by the membership to put in writing positively about Roque earlier than his arrival.
This manipulation of public opinion was additional difficult when, months later, the identical journalist obtained proof of the fee paid for Malcom’s switch. This coincidence raised eyebrows and recommended a sample of questionable practices.
Xavi was at all times towards Roque
It should be famous that Xavi himself was reportedly towards signing Roque. The choice to carry Roque to Barcelona in January was made solely after Gavi was sidelined for the rest of the season with an ACL damage.
Xavi was looking for a participant to help or substitute for the ageing Robert Lewandowski, however it quickly grew to become clear to the teaching employees that that they had been misled about Roque’s potential.
At present, there are rumours of curiosity from main European golf equipment, however the membership appears extra inclined to promote Roque to the Saudi Arabian market.
This transfer is pushed by a need to stability the membership’s funds and create room for brand new signings. Roque’s switch payment was thought of extreme, and there’s a rising demand for accountability concerning the choice to carry him to Barcelona.
