Barcelona have sacked coach Xavi Hernández, a decision that comes in the wake of conflicts between the coach and the club’s president, Joan Laporta.
This change opens up new prospects for players who had little space in the team, including Brazilian Vitor Roque.
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Dismissal and the possible opportunity for Roque
- Xavi’s dismissal was announced this Friday (24), with the club expressing gratitude for the work done by the coach, who had a brilliant career as a player and captain of Barcelona;
- Xavi took over the team’s management in the middle of the 2021/22 season, winning La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup;
- However, his trajectory was marked by ups and downs, culminating in unsatisfactory performance in the 2023/24 season, finishing third in the Spanish Championship and without any titles won;
- With Xavi’s departure, the question arises as to how this will affect Vitor Roque’s situation at Barcelona;
- The young Brazilian, signed with great expectations, had few opportunities to play under Xavi’s command, a situation that generated frustration in his agent and concerns about his development at the club.
Xavi commented on Vitor’s situation
The coach explained in a press conference that Vitor Roque was in a training stage and that other players were ahead of him, thus justifying the limited playing time.
He mentioned that the original intention was for Vitor to remain in Brazil to continue his development, but Gavi’s injury opened the opportunity for his incorporation into Barcelona’s first team.
Xavi believed that the experience of being at the club would be beneficial for the young player’s growth.
Xavi x Laporta
The problems between Xavi and Laporta intensified due to the coach’s statements about the club’s financial crisis, which were not well received by the president.
In addition, Xavi had initially decided to leave the club at the end of the season, but later changed his mind, proposing to extend his contract until June 2025. This turnaround seems to have exacerbated the tensions, leading to the decision to dismiss him.
Opportunity arises
With the likely arrival of Hansi Flick, former Bayern Munich and German national team coach, the dynamics at Barcelona could change significantly. Flick is known for his offensive style of play and for giving opportunities to young talents, which could be positive for Vitor Roque.
The expectation is that the new coach will re-evaluate the squad and may give the Brazilian more space, as he seeks to establish himself as an important piece of the team.
Remembering Zagallo
Sambafoot Series launched a new documentary about the football legend Zagallo. Known as ‘Velho Lobo‘ and as superstitious as it gets, Zagallo helped shape what Brazilian football is nowadays — as a player and as a coach.
Watch the full series, available on Sambafoot’s Youtube channel.
