Every player at FC Barcelona wants to have their turn under the spotlights of the great European stages. Whether it be in La Liga or over in the Champions League, the players of the Catalan club have huge aspirations. However, not every Barcelona player is treated equally for various different reasons.
Due to the sporting competition at the club, only the very best get the most opportune chances. The rest, for much of the season, only play rotational roles that come into play every once in a while. However, some Barcelona players show great promise, but are not given the chances to show it off.
One such player, for most watchers of Barcelona, is Vitor Roque. The 18-year-old arrival from Brazil is a player who many regard as a great bet for the future. Despite his age, he has already proven himself at the highest level in Brazil and even impressed in his few cameos for Barcelona.
However, despite having lost prominence under the tutelage of Xavi Hernandez in recent times, he may get his chance in the next game. As highlighted by SPORT, Barcelona next play Cadiz away from home at the Nuevo Mirandilla without the services of ace striker Robert Lewandowski, who will be serving a suspension.
This should give Vitor Roque a golden opportunity to potentially start for Barcelona against Cadiz. Lamine Yamal could use some rest, and that leaves the options of Ferran Torres, Joao Felix, and Raphinha open to be deployed. While Xavi could as well just field those three as the forwards for the clash, Roque is already up for a chance to prove his own quality.
Others such as Joao Cancelo are also suspended, and he will have to be replaced by either Marcos Alonso or Hector Fort. As for the frontline, Vitor Roque is the player who has perhaps waited and suffered the most ever since his arrival in Barcelona.
While Xavi’s reasons to potentially save him from unwanted pressure are justified, he needs some level of opportunity to get a grip of his best self.
Thus, it is his mission to impress and convince Xavi enough to start him in the game or potentially give him a chance. So far, the Brazilian forward has not even debuted for Barcelona in the Champions League.
Despite already being registered, his prominence has been disappointing, but things may work out better in La Liga if he can play his cards right.