Like Gabigol, Gerson and many others before him, Vitor Roque thought he was finding a smile in Brazil after a contrasting experience in Europe, not to say “failed”. The 20-year-old striker, described as the future 9 of the Seleção after devastating beginnings with Atlético Paranainense, was ultimately not the Big-Bang promised at Barça. His loan to Betis was a bit more exciting this season (4 goals in 22 games), but the Catalan club finally shortened it to sell it € 25 million in Palmeiras and limit the losses (it had been bought a little more than 30 M € by Barça).
Vitor Roque then became the most expensive transfer in the history of the Brazilian A series A, ahead of Thiago Almada (in Botafogo for € 19.5 million) and Gabriel Barbosa (€ 17.5 million), enough to add an inconvenient new pressure on the shoulders. His beginnings did not convince Grand-World, and his coach Abel Ferreira ventured in a dubious comparison with Mbappé in April to explain this complicated adaptation: “Do you remember what happened to the player recruited by Real Madrid, Mbappé, who was not marked at his beginnings?” Water has flowed under the bridges since then, but the situation remains stationary.
“I have the impression that he plays with 50 kilos on his back”
That night against Mirassol in the league (1-1), Roque chained a tenth consecutive match without any goal, stretching his scarcity period to more than two months. Holder at the kick -off, he finally paid for his lack of impact and his numerous inaccuracies by being replaced at the time of play. After 25 games under the colors of Palmeiras, the player born in 2005 displays a famecal assessment of 3 goals. An unprecedented crisis of confidence, which should not go by arranging with the words of his coach, much less patient now.
“Roque has played in Europe and is Brazilian international, he will have to improve certain things and he knows. Now he must accept that he is going through a bad pass and do one thing: continue working. He is 20 years old but I have the impression that he plays with 50 kilos on his back (…) You also have to take into account the weight of his transfer. He goes through a difficult period, we will have to help him ”said Abel Fereira. On social networks, fans are even harder as relays TNT Sports Brasil. “How can this guy hold?”, “I am in denial, I refuse to believe that Roque is this player” Can we read. Roque is expected to rebound, and quickly.
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