The former Barcelona captain, Sergi Roberto, is facing a very peculiar situation regarding his future at the Catalan club. His contract with the Blaugrana entity ended on 30th June, and he has been a free agent since then.
However, he was still waiting for the offer of a new one-year extension. The Catalans themselves have been contemplating such a proposal, but their economic and FFP problems have tied their hands, especially as they also have to undertake other operations on a higher priority.
The trusted journalist Fabrizio Romano has provided the latest update on this operation. The Italian claims that Roberto is leaving the club 100%, and everything is over between the two parties.
“Sergi Roberto is 100% leaving. It’s over between Barcelona and Sergi Roberto.”
If this report turns out to be true, the versatile midfielder will leave the club after 14 years with the first team. During this time, he has performed various roles for the team, including playing as the left-back and in the midfield.
He became the first captain of the team after Sergio Busquets departed from the club after the conclusion of the 2022-23 season, and his contributions in this capacity were valued highly by the last Barcelona coach, Xavi Hernandez, who wanted him to stay at the club for another season despite being a ‘highly criticized’ player.
“I would recommend to the club that they renew Sergi Roberto. They already know it. He is important, he can play in many positions. You have to explain very little to him. He knows what Barça is, what it represents. A highly criticized footballer, but he always plays at a high level. I’m delighted with him.”
The La Masia graduate will leave behind some unforgettable memories of his time at the club. The most cherished of these memories will clearly be the 6-1 win over PSG in the 2016-17 UEFA Champions League campaign when Roberto scored the last goal of the match to take the Catalans to the quarter-finals of the competition, after a 4-0 loss in the first leg.
His experience and versatility could still have come in handy for the Blaugranes in the next season. However, their economic problems force them to operate with a minimum of space in the squad, and Roberto might have to be sacrificed to bring in younger blood into the team.
