Barcelona coach Xavi: Nothing unusual in Roque management

Barcelona coach Xavi has defended his limited use of Vitor Roque.

Ahead of facing Almeria tomorrow, Xavi was asked how Barca could use a player so little after spending 30m to sign him.

He responded: "Because that's how we planned it. The intention was for Vitor Roque not to come in January so it could be done. But in the end we decided that, for his own good, and to speed up his adaptation, he would come.

"There is a debate that makes no sense to me. He is young, he is developing and it depends on who he has in front of him to see if he plays.

"This has happened all our lives and, above all, with young footballers."