Barcelona have told Sergi Roberto they want to renew his contract before it expires at the end of the season, multiple sources say. You could guess the player's response — an emphatic YES!
Let's talk about why Barca are taking this step.
Experience
Roberto has been at Barca since he was 10 years old. He's in his 30s now, which tells you how much of his life he's poured into this club.
The current Barca squad is brimming with youth and energy in every department and that's why players like Roberto are an endangered species that must be respected and protected.
Experience, as they say, cannot be bought with money. It's what Roberto represents at Barca now. If Barcelona needs a player who can guide the young guns and newbies on the right path to success, Roberto is that man. A voice of reason. A bridge between the players and coaches. A true Cule.
Money saved
Roberto's injury problems have impacted his appearance numbers. Still, he barely puts a foot wrong when called upon and he's not that old at 32. Plus Barca would pay through their nose to replace such a reliable team player.
Barca are reportedly still searching for a new defensive midfielder, but offloading Roberto would demand the signing of more than one midfielder as Christensen cannot continue to be used in that position.
How much will it cost Barca to sign to sign another midfielder to replace Roberto? The cheapest one they got last summer was €3.4m and we all know how well Oriol Romeu turned out. Barca would rather save that money.
Versatility
Roberto can sometimes be mistaken for a right-back, a defensive midfielder or a number 10. It's because he plays all those positions so well.
Add that to his ability to come off the bench and make an instant impact. We've seen that in games against Granada and recently against Napoli this season.
Extending his contract makes perfect sense.
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