Barcelona could reportedly soon attempt to keep Sergi Roberto beyond the summer transfer window by holding talks over a contract renewal.
According to Spanish journalist, Marta Ramon Gorina on RAC1, Barcelona and Sergi Roberto are poised to begin discussions over a new contract this week. Talks surrounding a renewal have been on hold for a long time, with the 30-year-old La Masia graduate in the final few months of his deal.
Sergi Roberto has enjoyed a largely fruitful professional career with Barcelona and has been an asset for most managers he has played under at Camp Nou. The Spanish international has reprised various roles over the years, excelling as a right-back and a central midfielder, for the most part.
But the 2021/22 season has been horrific for the 30-year-old, with injuries hampering him for much of the campaign. As a result, the player has garnered only 567 minutes of game-time across 12 appearances in all competitions. And with Roberto’s Barcelona contract running out in a few months, the Catalan giants are in a spot of bother.
Talks between Barcelona and Roberto have not progressed smoothly, with wages the biggest sticking point for the two parties. The Spaniard has invariably courted interest from several clubs across Europe, with La Liga giants Atletico Madrid, Sevilla, and Real Betis also keen on securing his services.
Recent reports have also claimed that Roberto was weighing up the prospect of moving to the United States to pursue a career in Major League Soccer. But there had been enough indications that Barcelona would be open to keeping hold of the 30-year-old beyond the summer transfer window.
Recent reports also suggested that Barcelona and Roberto were set for crunch talks over his future. And according to Marta Ramon Gorina, the two parties will initiate discussions in a meeting scheduled for this week to finally resumes negotiations over a renewal.
It will be interesting to see if Barcelona can reach an agreement with Sergi Roberto over the terms of a new contract. For now, though, the La Masia graduate continues to face an uncertain future at Barcelona and could leave Camp Nou as a free agent.
