Vitor Roque's agent threatens permanent Barcelona exit with furious Xavi criticism

The agent of Barcelona striker Vitor Roque has threatened to find a permanent transfer for the 19-year-old as he blasted Xavi's treatment of the young forward.

Roque moved to Barcelona in January in a deal which cost the cash-strapped Spanish side an initial €30m, with a further €31m in add-ons, but he has so far managed just 310 minutes across 13 appearances.

Roque's agent, Andre Cury, has now lashed out at Xavi's use of the young striker, warning Barcelona they will not accept this situation for much longer.

"I think Vitor Roque has to have more minutes," Cury told RAC1. "Nobody understands why they're not giving him that. Xavi has never spoken to the player, I don't understand it.

"[Roque] has to work and work harder, and wait for the opportunities, but I believe there were already many, many games in which those minutes could have been given, so we wouldn't need to be talking about this issue today.

"He is very strong mentally and physically, and has a bit of enthusiasm to show that because in the club and the press there is a lot of nonsense being talked about. Bad figures who are saying things that are not true. All of this does not help. Look what happened with Vinicius [Junior] at Real Madrid, it took him two seasons to play. Here in Barcelona, a mess has been created in two months. People want to kill, not help."

Reports have previously suggested Roque's representatives would try to resist any efforts to send him on loan, and Cury has now confirmed a permanent exit is the only thing they will consider if things do not change.

"We have spoken with Deco," he continued. "The boy has a contract with Barca but we had other options for double the money, he chose this because he wanted to play for Barcelona.

"I'm sure that Vitor is going to be a great player, but if Barca doesn't let him, then we have to find another way.

"A loan? No. Either the player stays to be given minutes to prove himself or, if the club decides that he cannot stay, he is going to be sold. There are interested teams, many of them.

"I do not know what is going to happen. The club have never told me anything. In my opinion, they can give him more minutes. Xavi gives them to Fermin [Lopez], [Pau] Cubarsi, Lamine [Yamal] but not Vitor. I don't know how to explain it. They conceded many goals against Girona and Real Madrid."

Cury insisted he does not care about Xavi's future at Barcelona, instead vowing to do whatever is needed to protect Roque's career.

"I have no opinion on the decision to continue with Xavi," he said. "I have to take care of Vitor. If the club doesn't give him a place, unfortunately, we are going to have to talk to the club to find a solution.

"It won't be a loan. You end up harming a young boy when you send him to another club that does not own him and has no interest in taking care of him. It is very dangerous for Vitor's career. The best thing would be to stay with Barca. The player and I chose to come to Barca for half the money.

"If he can continue, we will do it happily. If it is not possible, we will sit down with the president and Deco.

"Today, it's the press speaking, not the club. The player has to play, we are working for this. He's not going to be happy if he doesn't play.

"In Brazil, he was playing for the national team. Now, he is out the squad because he does not play. We came to Europe to play for Barcelona, not for another team."

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