The midfielder was sold to Porto last year, where he has just enjoyed an impressive first season.
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"For me it is a disappointment that a player like him is not in the Barça first team," Vilajoana told Sport.
"He is a player with brutal conditions. He was the ideal substitute, and comparisons are never fair, because each player has what he has, but the perfect substitute as a profile for (Sergi) Busquets.
"Nico, working more at home, and not so much with loans, I am convinced that he would have succeeded. I think he should be in the first team."