Barcelona manager Hansi Flick on Vitor Roque exit – ‘It’s totally wrong to say I’m not counting on him’

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick was back in front of the press less than 48 hours after his side overcame Athletic Club on Saturday in their first home game of the season at Montjuic. The Blaugrana now face a tricky trip to Rayo Vallecano at Vallecas, but will do so without Vitor Roque.

Since the Athletic win, the departures of Mikayil Faye, Clement Lenglet and Vitor Roque have all been confirmed, but those exits will not clear sufficient space in their salary limit to register Olmo before the Rayo game as things stand.

Roque has gone to Real Betis on a loan with an option to extend the loan and an option to buy for Betis, but it has caught the eye of many that both Flick and predeccessor Xavi Hernandez have seen fit to include him in their plans. Flick was asked what Roque was missing in order to be part of those plans.

“We cannot say that I am not counting on Vitor, that is totally wrong. What I can talk about is what he told me. He came from Brazil, in a situation that is not easy for him. Sometimes these situations for the player, sometimes it’s good. It is a good chance for him to play. He can improve, I can see a lot of things, he’s doing really great, and he is a good guy, and we hope he can play and improve his performance,” Flick told the media.

Unless a major u-turn, Cancelo will join Saudi Arabia football. The option of bringing Marc Pubill instead remains on the table. @AdriaAlbets

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) August 26, 2024