La Liga heavyweights Barcelona have reportedly submitted a one-year contract offer to 30-year-old utility man Sergi Roberto.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Sergi Roberto will have the chance to extend his stint with Barcelona. The Catalan giants have offered a one-year contract extension to the 30-year-old. And his deal will extend by a year if he plays a certain number of games.
Sergi Roberto started his youth career at UE Santes Creus before passing through the academy at Gimnastic de Tarragona. The Spanish international then joined Barcelona as a 13-year-old in February 2006 before rising through the ranks at La Masia. And it took him just five years to make his first-team debut in November 2010.
The 30-year-old has come a long way since then, establishing himself as a handy asset for Barcelona. But fitness issues have played spoilsport for the experienced utility man in the last few years. In particular, Roberto had a 2021/22 season to forget, barely featuring for Barcelona in that campaign.
But the veteran Spaniard has gradually regained his fitness and made 18 appearances thus far for Barcelona this term. And Roberto might become a regular in the right-back berth for the Blaugrana as the season progresses. That is because Hector Bellerin joined Sporting CP on the deadline day of the January transfer window.
Barcelona wanted to replace Bellerin with Julian Araujo. And while reports claimed they were close to signing the Mexican international, a deal did not materialise. So Xavi Hernandez has only Jules Kounde and Roberto as his right-back options for the rest of the season.
Meanwhile, the 30-year-old utility man has produced a few impressive performances this season. And that has convinced Barcelona to hand him a new one-year contract. In addition, Roberto will have the opportunity to extend his stay by a further year if he manages a certain number of appearances next season.
Furthermore, Roberto will occupy less space on Barcelona’s wage bill if he accepts the offer. That is because the contract extension comes with a salary cut. So it will be interesting to see if the 30-year-old Spanish international is ready to sign a new one-year deal.
