Xavi Asks Barcelona Managment To Renew The Team's Star

 

Barcelona look to recovering their form after a very tricky few weeks towards the end of 2023. They have picked up back-to-back wins against Almeria and Las Palmas, results that have just about kept them in the hunt for the La Liga title.

It has perhaps been no coincidence that the Catalans’ form has picked up when Sergi Roberto has returned to the line-up. The club captain has been a bit-part player this season, but due to injuries for Gavi and Pedri, he has been drafted in for the last two matches – he was even the match-winner against Almeria, scoring twice in a 3-2 victory.

Roberto’s future has been up for discussion of late, given that his contract expires at the end of the season. Head coach Xavi Hernandez wants the 31-year-old to be given a new contract, as he told the media (via Sport) ahead of Sunday’s trip to Barbastro in the Copa del Rey.

I would recommend to the club that they renew Sergi Roberto. You already know that. He’s important, he can play in a lot of positions. You have to explain very little to him. He knows what Barcelona is, what it represents. He’s a much-criticised footballer, but he always gives his best. I’m delighted with him.”

Roberto is one of Barcelona’s lowest-paid players, so they cannot afford to keep him on even if it is only as a fringe player. However, that may still not be enough, and he could well depart in the summer

Personal information

Sergi Roberto Carnicer (born 7 February 1992) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for La Liga club Barcelona, which he captains. Mainly a central midfielder, he can also operate as a defensive midfielder, full-back  or winger.

Team information

Born in Reus, Province of Tarragona, Catalonia, Roberto began playing football with local UE Barri Santes Creus at the age of 8,[5][6] arriving in Barcelona's youth academy six years later from neighbours Gimnàstic de Tarragona.[7] In the 2009–10 season, at only 17, he first appeared with Barça's reserves, contributing 29 appearances as they returned to the Segunda División after 11 years.[8]

On 10 November 2010, Roberto made his debut for the first team, playing the second half of a 5–1 home win against Ceuta for the campaign's Copa del Rey (7–1 on aggregate).[9] On 27 April of the following year he made his first UEFA Champions League appearance, coming on as a substitute for David Villa in the last minute of a 2–0 away victory over Real Madrid in the competition semi-finals' first leg.[10]

Roberto first appeared in La Liga on 21 May 2011, playing the full 90 minutes in a 3–1 win at Málaga in the season's last round.[11] His first start for the main squad came on 6 December of that year, against BATE Borisov in the Champions League group stage, as manager Pep Guardiola rested all his starters for the upcoming El Clásico: in the 35th minute, he opened the scoring in an eventual 4–0 home win.[12]

In only his third official appearance for Barcelona's first team, on 12 January 2012, Roberto scored his second goal, helping the visitors come from behind to win 2–1 against Osasuna in the domestic cup (6–1 on aggregate).[13] On 16 December 2014, also in that competition, he netted another, contributing to an 8–1 demolition of Huesca at the Camp Nou.[14]

In the 2015–16 season, after being reconverted by manager Luis Enrique and merely months after nearly being deemed surplus to requirements,[15][16] Roberto appeared as a right-back in several games.[17][18] In two consecutive matches against Athletic Bilbao in January 2016, one in the league and another in the Spanish Cup, he featured on the other flank in the place of injured Jordi Alba,[19] going on to play in as many as seven different positions.[3]

On 20 August 2016, Roberto started as a right-back and provided two assists in a 6–2 home defeat of Betis in the opening match of the campaign.[20] On 24 September, from the same position, he again contributed two decisive passes in a 5–0 away rout of Sporting de Gijón.[21]

On 8 March 2017, Roberto scored the final goal in the 95th minute as part of a decisive 6–1 home victory against Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg of the Champions League round-of-16, making Barcelona the first club to overcome a four-goal deficit in the competition.[22][23] On 22 February 2018, he extended his contract until 2022.[24]

In injury time of the first half of the fixture with Real Madrid on 6 May 2018, Roberto was shown a straight red card after punching Marcelo, in an eventual 2–2 home draw.[25] He was first-choice right-back during the season ahead of newly signed Nélson Semedo, and his side won the national championship after a one-year wait.[26]

Roberto suffered a quadriceps strain injury in late October 2021, was successfully operated in December by surgeon Lasse Lempainen in Turku, Finland.[27]

On 3 March 2023, Roberto agreed to an extension until 2024.[28] In spite of dealing with several physical problems, he scored a career-best four goals for the league champions.[4]