Report: Barcelona defender activates the option of moving to the MLS

Reputed journalist Toni Juanmarti has said that Barcelona defender Sergi Roberto will move to the Major Soccer League (MSL) side LA Galaxy if the current negotiation regarding a potential renewal fails.

Speaking on the Siempre Positivo podcast, the Diario Sport journalist confirmed that Roberto’s entourages and some of his close friends are already in the United States and are working on striking a deal.

“Sergi Roberto, his camp and some of his close friends are working on striking a deal with an MLS club,” said Toni Juanmarti. 

He further added that Roberto always wanted to play in the MLS, but the idea was to go there in the latter part of his career.

However, given his exit is now seeming evident since Barcelona are expressing no interest in offering an extension, the 30-year-old might as well leave in the summer. 

“Roberto has a lot of people living in the United States and a couple of years back he told them he wants to go to the USA at the end of his career,” he added.

“But given the current problems with Barcelona, he hasn’t extended his contract yet and his agent has great doubts whether Barcelona intend to offer an extension.

“In that case, Roberto has decided to activate the option of moving to the MLS side LA Galaxy. Nothing is advanced yet, but the idea is there.”

Roberto’s current Barcelona contract runs out at the end of the season and the team management expects him to take another paycut if in case there is an offer on the table. Despite that though, he still hopes to meet the club somewhere in the middle as his priority is to continue with Xavi.

“At the moment, his priority is still to sign an extension with Barcelona but for different reasons, it’s not happening. Hence, if there is no agreement, he will move to the MLS,” Juanmarti explained. 

The journalist signed off by saying that Roberto is certainly not the only Barcelona player dreaming of moving to the MLS, with club captain Sergio Busquets also considering his options.

“Roberto is not the only Barcelona player living the American dream as Sergio Busquets is also aware of the American competition,” he concluded.