Barcelona loanee aims a dig at Xavi – ‘If the people don’t help you, it is even more difficult’

Vitor Roque has begun a new life at Real Betis after leaving FC Barcelona on loan during the summer transfer window.

The Brazilian striker has joined the Seville-based outfit on loan for a season with an option for another year, and has already gone on record multiple times about how he is happier there than he was at Barcelona.

Roque’s dig at Xavi

In a recent interview with ‘Canal Sur Radio’ (h/t SPORT), Roque sent another pointed message towards former Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez without actually naming him, as he reflected on his difficult time at the Catalan club.

“I am young but yes, I have had a hard time in football, although I have always taken it as a learning experience. At Barcelona, I learned a lot of good things and bad things too, but now I am very happy at Betis,” said Roque.

“It is difficult to arrive there after they paid so much for me and, if the people do not help you, it is even more difficult,” sending a message towards the former Blaugrana coach.

Roque then went on to admit that he does not read or listen to anything about Barcelona now and is fully focused on succeeding at Real Betis.

“I do not read many things about Barcelona. I am focused on Betis, I am happy here and I do not think about what they say there. The information always reaches me anyway,” he said.

The teenage centre-forward also acknowledged that he sought the help of psychologists to control his media exposure, which was significant at Barcelona.

Happy at Betis

Speaking about his time at Real Betis so far, Roque remarked that he believes he is adapting well to his new club, but hopes to improve his goalscoring form.

“Four goals… it is not bad. We are there, but I am not yet satisfied, I always have a hunger for goals and I hope I can score many more goals. I have a figure in mind, but I do not want to say it,” said the Brazilian starlet.

“Sometimes there is a problem of anxiety because I want to do things well and too quickly to help my teammates and Betis. I must be mentally calm so that things go well for me.”

Roque also revealed that he decided to sign for Real Betis in the summer despite having an offer from Sporting Lisbon because he trusted the project.

“The two offers came to me together, but I was always closer to Betis because of the sporting project and the project for my family. I wanted to stay in Spain and there Barcelona treated me well because they facilitated things for me,” he shared.

“I am focused on Betis and I do not think of anything else. And I hope I can win a title here.”