Vitor Roque Barcelona 2023-24Getty

'He must learn!' - Xavi warns Vitor Roque he must improve a lot to earn regular playing time at Barcelona

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  • Roque told 'he must learn' by Xavi
  • Brazilian has only one start for Barca
  • May play against Cadiz this weekend
  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    Roque arrived in Catalonia with a lot of spectacle surrounding him and his talent after leaving Athletico Paranense for a reported €35 million (£30m/$38m) fee plus add-ons. However, the Brazilian has not seen a lot of action under Xavi and the World Cup-winner has explained that the 19-year-old has a lot to learn before he can start to play regularly for the Blaugrana.

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    WHAT XAVI SAID

    Speaking to the media, Xavi said: "He is a player who is giving us a lot even though he does not participate. Against Cadiz he will have minutes because he deserves them and because we believe in him as a footballer.

    "We are having a lot of influence on the way he should understand the game. We focus a lot on the tactical issue. He is a footballer who gets into space well and I am sure that we will take advantage of it. He has innate qualities that are very important and that come out. He has a lot of quality, but there are aspects that he must learn and that is what we are working on. We have now prepared a video for him in which he must focus on certain things."

  • THE BIGGER PICTURE

    When Roque arrived at the club, it was expected that he could slot straight into the squad and be played in tandem with the misfiring Robert Lewandowski and Joao Felix. However, the Polish striker has since turned the tide in his favour and hit a good vein of form as Barcelona look to win their first Champions League title since 2015. The 35-year-old has been a regular on the field since and that has limited the Brazilian striker's playing time.

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  • Robert Lewandowski Barcelona 2023-24Getty Images

    WHAT NEXT FOR ROQUE?

    Roque will likely feature this weekend when Barca take on Cadiz on Sunday, April 14. Xavi may opt to rest Lewandowski with the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, April 16 in mind.

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