Vitor Roque revealed that he wants to score a goal for Real Betis against FC Barcelona during an interview with Gol TV in Spain shown before the two teams in question face off in La Liga on Saturday.
The 19-year-old arrived at Barca in January to much fanfare, after he completed a transfer worth an initial €30 million then a further €31 million in variables down the line.
Known as 'Tigrinho' Vitor Roque could have given Xavi Hernandez's squad a much-needed mid-season boost at a time it was losing its grip on La Liga and Spanish Super Cup titles eventually lost to arch nemesis Real Madrid.
As things turned out, though Vitor Roque spent much more time on the bench than the pitch and also couldn't find a way into the plans of Xavi's successor Hansi Flick meaning he was loaned out to Betis approaching the start of 2024/2025.
He has previously spoken about his troubled time in Blagurana, which he said "was complicated in general".
"I thought it was going to be different, both in the treatment and in the way of playing, as well as in the way the board talked to me.
"But it's over, I'm happy to have the opportunity at Betis and to wear the national team shirt again," Vitor Roque added.
As he is on the eve of facing his parent club in rival colors for the first time, the Spanish press naturally wants to talk to Vitor Roque who said he hopes to score, "God willing, because that's what you work for all week.
"If I score a goal I will not celebrate it," he added, while stressing that his overall mission is to "go in focused to get the victory".
"Little by little I am adapting, with persistence and work things are going well, and now I want to score goals to help the team," he also stated about life at the Estadio Benito Villamarin.
In his own interview with SPORT, ex-Barca star Marc Bartra, who is at Betis too, said that he "has a lot of respect for Vitor".
"On a personal level he is a wonderful person and on a professional level, a player with amazing abilities and room for improvement.
"Vitor listens a lot and is eager to grow," Barta added. "I have absolute confidence in him, because I think he can give us a lot this season."