Barcelona have not performed at their best in the transfer market in recent years, and that trend continued with Vitor Roque. The teenager arrived from Athletico Paranaense with high expectations in January 2024, but in the end, he left the club just over 12 months after his transfer from his homeland.
Roque struggled to make his mark in the second half of the 2023/24 season, then went on loan to Real Betis last summer before signing a permanent deal with Palmeiras in February 2025.
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Deco looks back on the disastrous Vitor Roque episode
According to MD, Barcelona’s sporting director Deco has now spoken out about the Roque situation, admitting that it was a mistake that the Brazilian international arrived six months ahead of schedule.
“He arrived in January. For me, it was a mistake. But we didn’t have many options. (Xavi) wanted it that way. The plan was for him to arrive in the summer of 2024. I think it hurt him. And of course, the demands are very high in Barcelona. If you worry too much about what the press says, you could get into trouble.
“His first six months were not good. I also think that there was a lack of attention from the staff and the club to discover the problems he had: adaptation, also on the mental level. We were not able to help him as much as he needed.
And Deco revealed that this decision was made by Xavi.
“Coaches are always heard when it comes to signings. The decision to sign him in January was Xavis. It was decided to bring forward his adaptation period by six months. At the end of the day, football is like that. Going to Europe very early is always complicated, and even more so if it’s to a club like Barcelona or Real Madrid.
Xavi himself confirmed in 2024 that Roque would not really come winter, but he did not state who made the decision. Deco has now made it clear that it was the then manager, which is likely to further increase the hostility between him and his former club.
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