Manchester United have agreed to pay the £36.5m (€40m) needed to activate Barcelona midfielder Sergi Roberto’s release clause ahead of a move this summer, according to reports from Spain.
The 25-year-old received his footballing education at Barcelona’s famous La Masia and enjoyed his finest season yet under Luis Enrique, serving primarily as a full-back and making 47 appearances in total. He can feature in midfield and out wide as well, but despite his immensely valuable versatility his place in the starting XI could be under threat this season.
The arrival of Nelson Semedo from Benfica, alongside Ernesto Valverde’s decision to use Aleix Vidal at right back against Real Madrid on Sunday night, suggests that he now lies way down the pecking order in that position. He will have to compete for a midfield spot at the Camp Nou this term, but with Paulinho set to arrive imminently, with Coutinho or Ousmane Dembele possibly following, places in the starting XI could be few and far between this season for Roberto.
And according to Spanish media outlet Don Balon (via Calcio Mercato), Jose Mourinho, determined to secure a wide player as well as a full back this summer, will table the necessary amount to activate the Spaniard’s release clause before the transfer window shuts. Securing his signature would be a fantastic way to kill two birds with one stone, but the club will have to do battle with Chelsea and Juventus in the race to sign him.
