Barcelona midfielder and Manchester United target Sergi Roberto is contemplating leaving the Nou Camp over the next few weeks following his recent lack of involvement under new manager Ernesto Valverde, according to reports from Spain.
The La Masia educated factotum, who can play at full-back, midfield and out wide, enjoyed a superb campaign under Luis Enrique last season, making 47 appearances and claiming a famous winning goal against Paris Saint Germain.
He featured primarily as a right back last term and impressed with his close control and positional awareness, but Nelson Semedo’s arrival over the summer from Benfica – alongside Valderde’s decision to use Aleix Vidal, who hadn’t played since February, in that role against Real Madrid on Sunday – suggests that his new boss wants a different kind of player occupying that spot. Roberto, in turn, will have to fight for his place in midfield instead, but with Paulinho arriving on Monday and the likes of Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Ivan Rakitic, Andre Gomes and Denis Suarez all vying for a place, starting opportunities may be hard to come by this time around.
And according to Spanish media outlet Mundo Deportivo (normally Barcelona’s puppets), Roberto is reconsidering his long term future at Barcelona with United, Chelsea, Juventus and AC Milan all prepared to activate his €40m release clause over the next few weeks.
The Spaniard is a true Catalan at heart and will not want to leave the club he loves, but at the age of 25, following a season where he showcased his unique adaptability and craft, his main concern is minutes on the pitch. Valverde cannot guarantee him the playing time, especially in the big games, and Mourinho’s job will be to convince Roberto that no other interested party can offer him the same amount of involvement next year.
