Report: Barcelona veteran’s contract renewal takes positive step ahead
According to Mundo Deportivo, negotiations for Sergi Roberto’s contract renewal with Barcelona are making progress.
Roberto, one of the captains this season, will see his contract expire at the end of the season, and his representatives, led by Josep Maria Orobitg, recently met with Barcelona’s sports director Deco to discuss the extension of his agreement.
Roberto, who is 32 years old, is a versatile player capable of performing both midfield and defensive roles, and both Deco and Xavi regard him as an integral part of the squad for the 2024-25 season.
Last month, Deco personally informed Roberto about the club’s interest in extending his contract, a prospect Roberto welcomed, given the trust and support he has received.
Will Roberto renew his contract with Barcelona?
It is no secret that Barcelona are working to accelerate the process of renewing his contract.
However, as reported before, the process will not be as straightforward as it seems. Both parties are still distant from reaching a mutual agreement on several issues.
To begin with, Roberto took a significant pay cut during his last contract renewal to aid the club financially, making him one of the team’s lowest-paid players.
Now, he is not willing to take any further pay reductions. Additionally, the captain is not happy with the offer of a one-year extension and is pushing for a minimum of a two-year contract.
He wants to renegotiate from scratch, a stance that the club’s board does not fully support.
Roberto is important for Barcelona
It is to be noted that Roberto has played a key role in the latter stages of this season and renewed his contract last season when he became a free agent.
This season, he has appeared in 10 La Liga games, starting in seven, as well as in five Champions League matches, starting in two. He also played in three Copa del Rey games and two Spanish Super Cup games, starting one and both, respectively.
Furthermore, he has scored three goals in La Liga and provided a significant assist to Robert Lewandowski during the Champions League round of 16 second leg against Napoli.
