Barcelona News: Due to the expiration of his current contract with Barcelona after this season, Sergi Roberto faces an unclear future with his present club.

Barcelona News: The La Masia product has shown to be a crucial component of the club over the years with his versatile ability. He has been able to play both in midfield and at right-back. This is really proving to be particularly useful in the last few seasons. Following the departure of Lionel Messi from the club in the summer, he was even named as one of the team captains for the next season.

While Roberto had a promising start to the season, a significant injury has forced him to miss most of the matches in the campaign. The Spaniard is scheduled to return in a little more than a month. In addition, the injury forced the club to postpone contract discussions with the player. This has been causing doubts about his future with the club.

Arsenal and Manchester City are said to be keeping a close eye on the situation of Sergi Roberto at Barcelona. While Roberto’s representative was initially sceptical of Barça’s plans to keep him on as a player, there has been a shift in attitude now They now believe that manager Xavi Hernandez wants the veteran star to remain. This could trigger talks and a deal could be done soon.

New information from Mundo Deportivo confirms this, with the publication claiming that Xavi is interested in keeping Roberto’s services beyond the current season. This will be good news for the player and his entourage.

According to reports, the manager considers the 30-year-old to be a vital asset to the team. This is once again due to his versatility and tactical adaptability. Aside from Dani Alves, Xavi believes that Roberto is the only other right-back capable of slipping into midfield and performing the job of an inverted full-back.

Xavi Hernandez wants to retain Sergi Roberto; as per the latest Barcelona news

Aside from that, the Spanish international represents someone who is familiar with the Barcelona DNA. He understands the style of play that the current manager prefers. To add to that, he is Barca in and out.

While Xavi is certain about Roberto’s contract extension, other club executives are not as enthusiastic as the former Barcelona star. Although the utility player may extend his contract, it goes without saying that there will be a significant pay reduction. That is in light of the club’s financial predicament. Further, his injury problems and diminished standing within the squad could also be a reason for that.

Sergi Roberto, on the other hand, continues to hold out. Now, Barcelona will notify the player and his agent when they are ready to make an official offer to extend his stay. Sergi Roberto’s contract with the club expires on June 30. So there is dissatisfaction with the delays. This is despite coach Xavi Hernandez saying that it would be a delight to retain the Spaniard.

Barcelona’s priority is those players, who have contracts set to expire after this year. But only those who wish to extend their present contracts. It’s not easy to overlook Sergi Roberto’s flexibility. This allows him to play both in midfield and on the right side for the same team. This season, he has appeared in 12 games in all competitions. He has scored two goals, one each against Real Sociedad and Getafe.