Barcelona star REJECTS lucrative Saudi Arabia switch
FT Desk
- 22 Aug 2023 17:45 BST
- 3 min read
A long-time Barcelona star has rejected overtures from Saudi Arabia in favour of staying at his boyhood club.
Sergi Roberto is now the Catalans' longest-tenured player following Sergio Busquets' departure to Inter Miami over the summer.
Roberto joined the club at the age of 14 after growing up in nearby Reus, and remains an important part of the Blaugrana set-up, in no small part due to his ability to shuttle between midfield and full-back as a utility man for coach and former team-mate Xavi.
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The 31-year-old now holds the captain's armband after inheriting it from Busquets, and signed a new contract at the start of 2023 which will keep him at Camp Nou until next summer.
And he has proven his loyalty by turning down a lucrative offer to join the exodus of talent towards the Middle East.
No to Saudi Arabia
Sport reports that Roberto was contacted by an unnamed club with a view to a transfer in the current window.
The deal would have netted Barca around €15 million in transfer fees, and the Catalans were willing to allow Roberto to negotiate his departure should that have been his desire.
But the midfielder is not interested in leaving, and will see out the rest of his contract at Barca rather than move to Saudi Arabia.
Roberto made his first-team debut in November 2010 and also featured in the club's triumphant 2010-11 Champions League campaign, coming off the bench for David Villa during the first leg of the semi-final against Real Madrid.
He has gone on to make 350 appearances for the Blaugrana, winning 20 major titles including seven Liga crowns and a further Champions League win in 2014-15.
