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Vitor Roque admits giving up during difficult Barcelona spell

Vitor Roque revealed he considered giving up and return to his small farm in Brazil during his difficult spell at Barcelona.

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Roque considered giving up in Barcelona

Roque joined Barca in January from Brazilian side Athletico-PR in a deal worth an initial €35 million.

However, the Brazil teenage forward lost his confidence during his stint with the Catalan club.

 “The most difficult moment was the one I went through there at Barcelona. But thank God, I had my family by my side. If you’re not happy, if you don’t have confidence, things won’t go well.”

“Sometimes I would talk to my mother and say ‘I don’t need any of that, I need to be happy, which is the most important thing’. But sometimes you have to go through things like this to learn, to learn to overcome, learn that it’s not easy, learn that it’s the process and move on.”

Barca included a €500m release clause in Roque’s contract, reflecting high expectations for the player who had impressed at Athletico-PR and with Brazil’s youth teams.

The 19-year-old said he even considered giving up and returning to his small farm in Brazil during his difficult period with Barcelona.

“Yes. I thought I want to go to the farm there [in Brazil] and be calm, without anyone worrying me, because sometimes it’s difficult… a lot of pressure. But it’s just about moving forward, having mental strength, continuing to work with great humility and things turning out well. Little by little, I am regaining my complete happiness and confidence, too.”

Still a dream realized

Roque scored twice in 16 appearances for Barca as a substitute.

The young striker said playing for Barca fulfilled his “childhood dream” of playing in Europe.

“The truth is that I arrived [at Barcelona] very happy,” he said. “Fulfilling my childhood dream, which was always my dream to be there, to be experiencing Champions League moments, to be wearing this shirt. When I got there [to Barcelona], I realised my dream of playing in Europe.”

“I believe that almost every player’s dream is to play in Europe, even more so at a club like Barcelona. Seeing players in the video game and playing alongside them is incredible. I didn’t imagine it would happen so quickly in my life.”

Despite the immense pressure, Roque still described his early days at Barca as a valuable learning experience.

“I already had a lot of anxiety about making things work out,” he said. “I think what created the pressure was the price they paid for me, which was a very expensive investment in recent years.”

He added: I wasn’t completely ready to resolve the situation or to help the team in the way I wanted, I would have liked to. I would have to have time to adapt, have time to get used to the players, the club, and it didn’t turn out the way I liked. And it serves as a learning experience for the next season.”

“There is a lot there that I will carry with me forever,” he said. “The biggest lesson was knowing that things pass and enduring the process, which is not easy. If I want to reach my biggest goal I need to know how to endure the process, to know how to be aware that everything will pass, to continue working for yourself.”

New lease of life at Real Betis

Roque joined Real Betis on a season-long loan just eight months after signing for the Catalan side.

So far, he has scored five goals in 17 appearances for Betis.

Roque’s contract with Barca runs until June 2031, but Betis has the option to extend his stay for an additional season or make his move permanent next summer.

Nonetheless, Roque said he found his happiness and confidence with Betis, and he is now looking forward to his upcoming match on Saturday against Barca.

“Happiness first, and confidence. From the first day I stepped foot here at Real Betis, I felt like it was a family. I’m having my opportunity, I’m trying to do things in the best way and I’m trying to help the club even more.”

“It’s a team that has proven to be one of the best in the world, both in the Champions League and La Liga,” he added. “It will certainly be a special match.”