Xavi would count on Barcelona right-back on one condition

Sergi Roberto’s contract situation at Barcelona has been garnering a lot of attention of late.

The 30-year-old versatile right-back has only a few months left on his current deal with the club and is set to become a free agent at the end of the season. Talks over a new deal had been initiated early in the season, but no progress had been achieved.

Soon after, the La Masia product picked up an injury that has kept him out on the sidelines since late October. It has led to a complete halt in negotiations with the club showing no urgency on the matter.

This has left his camp believing that the Catalan giants have zero interest in extending his contract when his deal runs out.

However, according to a fresh update from SPORT, manager Xavi Hernandez wants the club to hand him a new deal. Back in December, the first-team coach had insisted that he sees Roberto as a part of his plans moving forward.

“Sergi Roberto is a fundamental player and that is how I have transmitted it to the club,” he had said. The report adds that the manager values the academy graduate’s versatile nature and his tactical understanding of the game.

At the same time, though, Xavi is aware of the financial difficulties at the club. So, while he would be willing to keep hold of Roberto, the 42-year-old wants the right-back to agree to reduced terms that the club proposes.

Over the week, it was claimed that Barça would request the Spanish international to slash his wages by 50%, considering that he is no longer a regular starter in the side.

Talks over an extension are set to resume once Roberto returns from injury in April. It will certainly be interesting to see whether the utility man is willing to agree to the lowered wages or decides to move on from Barça.