Xavi insists on the continuity of 30-year-old Barcelona defender

Sergi Roberto seemingly continues to divide opinion inside the Barcelona offices. The La Masia graduate is in the final few months of his contract with the club but there are no sights of a renewal as of yet.

Barça president Joan Laporta recently revealed that the club had made a contract proposal which the player’s camp did not sign. Following that, talks over a new deal have completely stalled, leaving the versatile defender’s future at Camp Nou uncertain.

Mundo Deportivo reports that Roberto is aware of the Blaugrana’s financial situation and is willing to take a pay cut and defer his wages over a two-year deal as well. However, the sum offered by the club is deemed too low, leading to the standoff.

Given his soon-to-be free agency status, the Spanish international is already attracting interest from clubs within Spain and abroad. However, the report adds that Roberto continues to enjoy the faith of his manager, Xavi Hernandez, who continues to bat for his extension.

The 42-year-old tactician, who has shared the pitch with the right-back in the past, has backed the club to hand Roberto a contract in public and privately as well. Xavi is believed to value the versatility and the tactical flexibility that the 30-year-old brings to the table.

With the manager pushing for him to be given a new deal, there is a chance that contract talks will resume between Barcelona and Roberto in the near future.

The 30-year-old is currently sidelined with an injury and is unlikely to return to action until next month. That is when the Blaugrana might decide to restart negotiations over a possible extension.

However, it remains to be seen if Laporta & co. are willing to increase their offer from the initial proposal or whether the La Masia graduate decides to agree to the terms originally offered.