Barcelona will reportedly hand 31-year-old utility man Sergi Roberto a one-year extension, with Xavi Hernandez keen on keeping hold of him.
According to a report by Spanish outlet SPORT, Sergi Roberto is in the final months of his contract with Barcelona. The reigning La Liga champions have made a decision on the future of the 31-year-old utility man. They are ready to hand him a one-year extension on his current deal.
The Sergi Roberto Story
Sergi Roberto has been an asset for Barcelona since graduating from the fabled La Masia youth division. The Reus native made his first-team debut for Barcelona as an 18-year-old in November 2010. But he had to bide his time to establish a foothold in the senior setup at Camp Nou.
The 31-year-old finally started growing in prominence in the 2013/14 season but rose in stature under the tutelage of Luis Enrique. His ability to play as a full-back and a midfield made him a utility man for Barcelona. Roberto has come leaps and bounds due to his versatility, turning out 359 times thus far for Barcelona, with nearly 250 appearances coming in La Liga.
The Spanish international has risen in stature considerably at the Catalan outfit, becoming the club captain this season. While he was already one of the vice-captains in the last few years, Sergio Busquets’s departure freed him to don the armband as the full-time skipper.
Sergi Roberto has also done well to overcome his recent fitness issues. So, while he has not been a first-choice starter for Barcelona, he remains an asset under Xavi Hernandez due to his utility role. The Barcelona captain has paid off handsomely by scoring a few crucial goals in the last few weeks, with the attackers struggling to make their mark.
What Does the Future Have in Store for Sergi Roberto?
But question marks have been surrounding Roberto’s future, with reports in October claiming he was set to leave Barcelona. Such a situation alerted several high-profile clubs, including Arsenal, AC Milan and Inter Milan. But the 31-year-old utility man is not going anywhere, with Barcelona ready to hand him a one-year extension on his current contract.
Xavi Hernandez is an admirer of the Spaniard’s abilities and wants to keep him in the Barcelona squad for the foreseeable future. So, Sergi Roberto will likely continue his stint with the Blaugrana after his game-changing performances this season.
