Barcelona captain hints at renewal agreement

Sergi Roberto has come out to make a statement regarding his contractual situation at Barcelona, saying that he is optimistic that a deal can be reached on his renewal.

“I am as optimistic, as the President and I both think that I will renew my contract soon,” he told Catalan news outlet SPORT when asked to comment on his future. The Spaniard’s renewal has been a topic of constant discussion over the past few months in Catalonia.

Despite the player publicly announcing his desire to stay at the club, various hurdles popped up during the negotiations. The biggest of these obstacles was the disagreement on the extent of a wage cut.

The player was ready to take a slash in salary, however, he felt the proposed cut was too high. Meanwhile, the sensations at Barcelona were different. They felt the third captain was earning too much for a bench role, for he is not a guaranteed starter in the current side.

With reports of stalled contract talks, rumors of interest in the midfielder began to emerge. The biggest name linked to the La Masia graduate was Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola is said to be a fan of the player’s versatility, and Etihad was speculated as his nect destination. However, things seem to have changed now.

As his words indicate, an agreement between the player and the club is not too far away. The deal is on the fringes and should be completed in the coming days.

Despite not being a starter, Roberto’s ability to play any position is of immense value to the side. With regards to this, the player said: “I will not stop fighting.”

What remains to be seen, however, is the extent of pay cut that is agreed upon.

Read also: The rise, fall, and possible redemption of Sergi Roberto at Barcelona