It's funny how some people are blaming Xavi for not playing this guy. Why the hell would any coach deliberately undermine a player who can make a significant contribution to the team? No one is that stupid! Therefore, we need to accept the fact that Roque is either not ready to play for Barca or he is just another expensive flop. In either case he needs to go on a loan for 1 season and we'll see what happens. However, the truth is that as of now it looks like we burned another 40 mil.
Furthermore, if he is good he will succeed on a loan. For example, look at Xavi Simmons at RB. In contrast, players who are trash will be equally trashy everywhere. Last season people were blaming Xavi for not trusting Fati and look at him now at Brighton. Hence, players who sit on the bench usually sit there for a reason.
Good post. Top teams don't really have the time and the patience to use a player that is not ready. This so-called teaching is an overrated concept. This is the main reason why at the big teams you rarely see 18-21 year old players play regularly, let alone 4-5 of those as the same time.
They do their early development someplace else, usually under low pressure in a calmer environment, and only make the next step to big teams if ready to contribute at the level they are required to deliver at. For this service the B clubs make big bucks in terms of transfer fees. Like with Bellingham, Haaland etc.
The position also counts. No9 and DM are probably the hardest and most complex for a young player to play while not having the level to do so. It's why you'd be hard pressed to find players of very young age that get serious minutes in a big team in either of those positions.
The main idea is that the more central the position is, the hardest it is. DM-CM area and no9 is where most of the traffic in a game happens. You're constantly surrounded by 3-4 opponents from either direction.
