Although his standing in the eyes of Barcelona fans has varied over the years, most Cules will be quite sad to see a servant as faithful as Sergi Roberto leave the club after spending his entire career in the Blue and Garnet jersey.
After his contract with Barcelona expired, Sergi Roberto has gotten the opportunity to say his goodbyes to his beloved club today. As SPORT has reported, the Catalans organized an event for him, which was attended by some former teammates of the departing former captain, including Carles Puyol, Xavi Hernandez, and Gerard Pique.
The departing midfielder could not control his tears as he reminisced on his Barcelona career. Talking about his life spent at the club, Roberto said:
“I’ve been fortunate to live a dream, to wear this jersey. I spent the best years of my life at La Masia, and I am very grateful to this club for everything it has given me. I would have liked to say goodbye to the fans on the field, but it wasn’t possible, and I want to thank them for everything because their high expectations have made me better.”
The former midfielder recalled his major milestones at the Blaugrana club:
“I especially remember my debut with the first team under Pep Guardiola, but also the promotion with the reserves. I’ve always been a Barça fan, and ending up wearing the captain’s armband is a pride and a dream I could never have imagined.”
“It’s been 373 matches and 25 titles over all these years. I want to thank my teammates, all the coaches, the board members, and the club’s staff because, without them, none of this would have been possible.”
Without a doubt, Roberto’s most memorable moment at Barcelona remains his goal against PSG that completed the famed remontada. The former captain himself talked about that goal in this ceremony:
“It’s a goal I will always remember because of what it meant to Barcelona fans. It’s one of the most incredible moments I’ve experienced on the field and among the fans. I was lucky to be there, and it turned into a magical night. The fans will always remember that goal and everything that game represented.”
While saying his goodbyes to Barcelona, the midfielder made clear that he will continue to play football professionally:
“I’m leaving happy and grateful because I’ve given everything to the club of my life. Now we’ll begin a new chapter with another team and in another city, but I’m sure that one day we’ll meet again in the future.”
Lastly, the versatile player also commended La Masia, and had some advice for the youngsters playing at the academy:
“La Masia is the heart of the club. We have incredible players, and they need to be patient. I always talked with my parents about how, at Barça, they have to let you go—you shouldn’t leave on your own.”
“If the young players are eager to fulfill their dream, they should work hard and push themselves because they are at the biggest club in the world, and they’ll surely get an opportunity. It’s worth making this effort to stay here.”
