In a recent print edition, Sport has stated that Manchester City are in pole position to land Barcelona full-back Sergi Roberto this summer. It is understood that the Spanish right-back, who can also play as a midfielder, is facing an uncertain future at the Nou Camp which could open the door for Man City to seal a move for him in this off-season (transcripted and translated by Sport Witness).
Roberto’s Underwhelming Season In Spanish Football
Roberto has endured an injury-plagued season with the Catalans but has done well to fill in as a squad player. The 29-year-old has been involved in 20 matches for Barca this term, netting one goal and securing two assists in multiple competitions.
The Reus-born sensation has struggled to be consistent with his performances over the past ten months as he has only averaged 0.6 tackles, 0.7 interceptions, 1.1 clearances, 0.9 key passes and 0.5 dribbles per game in La Liga. However, he has even been excellent when distributing the ball from the right flank after completing 90.1% of his attempted passes in league football (stats via whoscored).
Roberto’s current contract with Barca runs out at the end of next season, so the Catalans would have no choice but to cash in on him this summer or else risk losing him as a free agent next year. Hence, Man City have every reason to be optimistic about their chances of securing the Spaniard’s services ahead of the new season.
Will Recruiting Roberto Be A Good Move For Man City This Summer?
Roberto is a hard-working and highly versatile player who can pass the ball accurately going forward. He is a decent defender at the back but needs to work on improving his tackling if he wants to flourish at the right-back position.
The Spanish sensation can sense the danger quickly to secure the ball back for his side. At 29, he still has a few good years left in him to play at a high level, so Man City would be wise to engineer a move to bring him to the Etihad Stadium this summer.
Roberto’s versatility and quality on the ball make him a good option for Pep Guardiola to consider during this summer transfer period. He will undoubtedly increase competition for places within Man City’s match-day squad. Furthermore, the Barca workhorse will offer cover for both the right-back and the central midfield positions which might help Guardiola rotate his squad more often in the coming seasons.
All in all, Roberto’s acquisition will be a decent move for Man City as the Spaniard has already won the UEFA Champions League twice with Barcelona, so he has the right mindset to help end the Mancunian outfit’s long wait for the elusive European trophy in the coming seasons.
