Barcelona legend uses Real Madrid example to criticise Blaugrana over Vitor Roque treatment | OneFootball

Former Barcelona star Rivaldo has this week provided his take on the difficult start to life to have been endured by fellow countryman Vitor Roque with the club.

The name of frontman Roque has of course dominated the headlines in Catalunya’s capital for several weeks now.

As much comes amid mounting claims that the Brazilian is being lined up for a move away from Barcelona, just six months on from his arrival.

Struggling to carve out a place for himself in boss Xavi’s frontline, it has been suggested that the brass at the Camp Nou are even ready to take into consideration a permanent sale.

Speaking as part of his role as an ambassador for Betfair (as cited by Diario Sport) this week, the situation of his young compatriot was therefore put to the aforementioned Rivaldo.

A player who knows a thing or two about what it means to be a success in Barcelona’s colours, the now-52-year-old was critical of his former employers.

This comes with Rivaldo of the opinion that the Blaugrana should have taken more care in ensuring that Roque was ready to make the jump to the top level of European football:

“Every player’s dream is to end up at teams like Barça, but arriving in the middle of the season has hurt Roque. I think that Barcelona, ​​and this is not only the coach, but all those who are in the sports management and the board, needed to analyse a little before if it was convenient to bring him in the middle of the season, if the player would really be an option for the team.

“Barça made a mistake when they brought him in January. Barcelona had to deal with him like Real Madrid deals with their talents, signing them and leaving them with their club for a while.

“If the player does not do well in training, it is clear that the coach always tries to build the first-team with the players with the best performance in training. You have to help the coach. He is the one who analyses and sees if the player is ready. At the club they could have done this analysis before and not had to wait for the player to arrive to see him in training.

“He is a player with a great future and if he doesn’t play for Barcelona, ​​he will surely have space in another team,” Rivaldo concluded.

Conor Laird | GSFN