It is time Arsenal and Man City target Sergi Roberto left Barcelona

Martin Macdonald

• 27 Oct 2021 07:06 CDT
• 6 min read

Sergi Roberto will leave Barcelona at the expiration of his contract in 2022, according to Spanish outlet Fichajes.

As the Spaniard is in the final 12 months of his deal, he has been locked in talks with the club over an extended contract.

Roberto was one of four club 'captains' who was asked to take a pay cut to help the club out financially, alongside Sergio Busquets, Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba.

President Joan Laporta claimed in September that a deal had been agreed to extend the player's stay, and that the only thing missing was a signature.

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“With Sergi Roberto it’s all coming along well, it’s agreed, and just needs to be signed. In principle, it’s done.

"They just have to sign the final documents. The same as the other captains, Sergi has made a gesture to support the club.

“The captains have made this gesture at a very difficult moment for the club. For me, they are gestures that will never be forgotten.

"They were already, but they are Barca heroes even more so now.”

However, new reports indicate that talks have broken down between the parties, and that one of the major stumbling blocks was the length of the deal as Barcelona only offered two years.

Is it time for Roberto to go?

Though he has never been considered a key player at Barcelona, Roberto has been with the club his entire professional career, having came through the academy at La Masia.

He has amassed 315 appearances for the Blaugrana, and developed himself into a competent right-back, having spent his career prior to that as a central midfielder.

From the start of last season until now, though, he has started just 12 matches in La Liga, which is an indicator that his time at Barca is perhaps winding down.

Though he has always been a good player, he perhaps has not reached the levels of his early promise.

And, unfortunately for him, there are three wonderkids who are now ahead of him in the pecking order at Camp Nou.

Pedri (18), Gavi (17), and Nico Gonzalez (19) are all not even 20 yet, but are now arguably more favoured by head coach Ronald Koeman than Roberto.

Sergino Dest has also usurped him as the first choice right-back.

Arsenal and Manchester City are interested in bringing him to the Premier League on a free transfer.

Both clubs are hoping to utilise his versatility and believe he could become a valuable member of their respective squads.

It was actually Pep Guardiola who gave Roberto his debut for Barcelona and the Man City boss is keen on a reunion as it would give him the opportunity to bring in a system player who knows exactly how to play in his style, and for free.