Abel urges Vitor Roque to find joy in training at Palmeiras | OneFootball

Abel Ferreira has urged Vitor Roque to rediscover his smile in training as the Palmeiras forward battles through a difficult spell, having scored only one goal in the past six months after ankle surgery.

According to Globo.com, Roque was a substitute in Wednesday's draw with Santos in the second match of the Copa do Brasil quarter-finals. He came on after the break and was booked following a late flashpoint with Rafael Braga at Vila Belmiro.

Ferreira said Roque spent three or four months sidelined and is still returning. He stressed he had defended the striker more than anyone last year, and wants to see happier body language and gratitude in training, with the mental side matching technical, tactical and physical demands.

In 2026, Roque has 30 appearances, seven goals and one assist. He scored in the Paulistão final while managing a left-ankle issue, underwent surgery in early May and only returned at the end of July.

The centre-forward struggled early last season, then kicked on after the FIFA Club World Cup and became one of Palmeiras' standouts, finishing with 20 goals and five assists in 56 games.

Source: Globo.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”