Sergi Roberto rejects Barcelona contract offer

Stuart Telford

• 9 Mar 2022 14:49 GMT
• 3 min read

A graduate of Barcelona's famous La Masia youth academy, Sergi Roberto has made more than 300 first-team appearances with the club and is one of the squad's captains alongside Sergio Busquets, Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba.

A six-time La Liga champion and two-time UEFA Champions League winner, Roberto's contract is up on 30 June this year, and the club and player appear to be blaming each other for the fact his deal hasn't yet been extended.

Barca-Sergi Roberto impasse

Barcelona claim that they made their versatile midfielder an offer to extend - which was rejected - some time ago, according to Mundo Deportivo journalist Gabriel Sans. But Roberto disputes this claim.

Attempts to sit down with his agent Josep Maria Orobitg at the conclusion of the recent winter transfer window came to nothing, with the club reportedly telling Roberto's representative that it would have been necessary to talk earlier in January.

Barca are responsible for some of the most expensive transfer arrivals of all-time - Philipp Coutinho cost €145m from Liverpool in 2018 and Ousmane Dembele €105m Borussia Dortmund the season prior.

Xavi's Barcelona transfer targets, according to the Express:

🇳🇴 Erling Haaland
🇩🇰 Andreas Christensen
🇲🇦 Noussair Mazraoui
🇪🇸 Cesar Azpilicueta
🇨🇮 Franck Kessie pic.twitter.com/OabJJkgQjk

— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) March 8, 2022

Their reticence to pay big money in light of their recent financial troubles may be understandable, although they were able to afford €60m for Manchester City's Ferran Torres in the recent winter window.

Most of their business of late has been financially shrewd, though, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Adama Traore also arriving on a free transfer and loan deal respectively from Arsenal and Wolves.

A midfielder who can deputise at right-back, Roberto's 2021/22 campaign has been disrupted by a torn hamstring which has seen him miss 24 games and counting.

Mundo Deportivo also suggest that Roberto may be looking for pastures new, with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said to be a fan of his fellow Spaniard.