Valencia and Real Betis are said to be interested in signing Barcelona midfielder and third club captain Sergi Roberto, who is approaching the end of his contract with the Catalans.
Spain’s newspaper Fichajes claims that Barcelona player Sergi Roberto has surfaced as a summer transfer target for La Liga clubs Villarreal and Real Betis. That is, with his contract with Barcelona scheduled to expire at the end of this season. Roberto has been linked with a move away from the Nou Camp in the past.
In 2010, Roberto made his first-team debut for the Catalans under then-manager Pep Guardiola after graduating from the renowned La Masia programme in Barcelona. In the years after, he has been in and around the senior squad, but he has never quite managed to establish himself as an indisputable starter at the Camp Nou.
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Roberto, who began his career as a central midfielder, has transitioned into a right back in recent years and has shown to be a valuable member of the Blaugrana’s utility squad. At the age of 29, he has made 316 appearances for Barcelona, scoring 12 goals and assisting on another 37 others in the process.
Will this deal actually happen or will be staying with the Catalan giants?
Due to Lionel Messi’s departure from the club in the summer of 2016, he has been named the club’s third captain for the 2018-19 season, after Sergio Busquets, Gerard Pique.
Roberto’s future at the Camp Nou, on the other hand, is far from guaranteed, since his contract with the club expires at the conclusion of the current season, which ends on June 30. Although discussions on a renewal have taken place, no agreement has been achieved between the two sides. It seems as a consequence that the Spanish international will be available as a free agent in the summer, which is quite unlikely.
Atletico Madrid and Manchester City have already shown an interest in Roberto’s services, and more clubs are expected to follow suit. In recent weeks, two more names have been added to the growing list of the 29-year-old’s suitors, with Barcelona’s La Liga rivals, Villarreal and Real Betis, both of whom are said to be interested in acquiring him on a Bosman move in the summer of 2022.
Sergi Roberto is attracting many suitors
Apparently, Real Betis has had Roberto on their radar for quite some time, according to the report. While his performances have dipped in recent weeks, the 29-year-old remains a good player with established credentials in La Liga, making him an intriguing target for Manuel Pellegrini and his coaching staff.
As for Villarreal, it is thought that manager Unai Emery personally requested Roberto’s acquisition since he is eager to add more quality depth to his squad considering the fact that the club participates in European football.
Because of his flexibility and experience, Roberto would be a valuable addition to any team that he chose to join, and it remains to be seen where he will finish up this coming summer. For the time being, it seems quite probable that the 11-time Spanish international will depart Barcelona at the conclusion of the current season’s campaign.
