Versatile Barcelona defender signs contract extension

 

Barcelona have announced Sergi Roberto has agreed a contract extension running until June 2022 with a new buyout clause of €500m (£442.6m).

 

Roberto has established himself as a key player for Barcelona since the start of last season and his performances even attracted Premier League interest during the summer.

 

The 26-year-old’s previous contract constrained a measly €40m (£35.4m) release clause and there was strong interest from Chelsea and Manchester United.

 

“I want to thank Sergi,” ESPN quote Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu as saying at a news conference on Thursday. “He has had and will have a lot of better offers, but he’s decided to stay at Barca. That is his home.”

 

“I always had it in my mind that I wanted to stay here at Barcelona,” Roberto added. “I’ve been a Barca supporter since I was a kid. I have been here for 12 years. There was interest from other clubs, but I want to stay here. Until 2022. And if it’s longer than that, even better.”

 

 

The arrival of Nelson Semedo from Benfica over the summer may have convinced Roberto to consider his future at Barcelona but the Spain international is still a key first-team player under Ernesto Valverde.

 

Roberto has played a direct hand in seven goals from 20 league games this season, while also completing more dribbles than any other La Liga defender (42).