Brazilian football has been home to some great strikers, and Vítor Roque and Endrick were the ones called upon to continue that legacy. The transfers to Barcelona FC and Endrick to Real Madrid, therefore, created maximum excitement, but in the end it turned out to be something completely different to what was expected. What should have been an exciting encounter between the two figures has ended up being a story of adjustments and difficulties in the context of European football.
Vítor Roque: in search of his place
The arrival of Vítor Roque at Barcelona raised great expectations. His statistics were truly extraordinary, including his characteristics as a striker with a great capacity for scoring thanks to his nose for goal and his physical strength.
However, he has found it difficult to adapt to the new league, although he did start off with a good handful of goals, in which he had to fight for playing time under coach Xavi Hernández, in a team with Robert Lewandowski as the man up front.
Roque’s greatest difficulty has been the lack of continuity of play. His own development at Barcelona is very dependent on his ability to adapt to a different style of play and to the needs of the club, although in that sense he fell short of becoming the team player that was expected of him.
But the Brazilian striker’s situation has continued to deteriorate in recent months. Vítor Roque is now on loan at Betis, where he has played more minutes than at FC Barcelona, but he has not managed to establish himself in Manuel Pellegrini’s system. As a result of this lack of prominence, Palmeiras have shown a strong interest in repatriating him, but the Brazilian’s contractual situation has meant that this interest could not be translated into a clear operation. Finally, they reached an agreement with the footballer, who returned to Brazil.
Endrick: a talent with a promising future
Endrick has a more technical and creative striker profile, capable of playing outside the area and able to win one-on-one battles against opponents who pursue him. His arrival at the club was also eagerly awaited and, although adapting to the demands of European football is always difficult for those coming to the old continent from South American football, his quality, as well as his power and potential, still allow him to dream of a future in which he will play a leading role in the merengue institution.
In Brazil he has shown great quality, so patience and hard work will be decisive, although confidence in his talent is still present. However, during his first season in Europe, the young striker has had problems finding his best level and, in turn, establishing himself in the team’s rotation. The club has doubts about his future. A sale is not being considered, but a loan to give him playing time is an option that is gaining strength.
Vítor Roque and Endrick: a long way to go
When comparing Vítor Roque and Endrick it becomes clear that both have problems adapting to European football, which they were all expected to dominate with ease, although they still have time to prove it. In a context in which Roque returns to Palmeiras, Endrick is making his way through goals at Real Madrid, which is gradually opening its doors to him.