Barcelona outcast used therapy to ‘overcome several obstacles’ at club

Vitor Roque has admitted therapy was required in order to 'overcome several obstacles' during the first few months of his Barcelona career.

The 19-year-old agreed to join Barcelona from Athletico Paranaense in 2024 prior to the 2023/24 season, before the club decided to bring him in during the January window instead.

However, Roque found opportunities hard to come by in Catalonia, and failed to make any meaningful impact before being linked with a summer exit. He eventually joined Real Betis on a straight loan for one season, with the option to extend by a further 12 months.

"It was a little difficult for me. I had some opportunities, but not in the way I thought," he said.

"My head is clear. Now I am focused on Betis and thanking God for the opportunity to wear the national team shirt again.

"I thought that it was going to be different, both in the treatment and in the way of playing, and in the way of talking to me about the board. But it's over.

"I have always been in therapy, with a mental coach. He has always helped me, since I was 16, when I also went through some obstacles. Today I try to do it too, it has helped me a lot to overcome several obstacles.

"When I left, I did speak. One of the first times...I tried to understand why many things were happening, which I am not going to tell here. At Betis they welcomed me very well, I am very happy to be there and to have the opportunity to play there."

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