Barcelona has delayed Sergio Roberto’s contract extension following their La Liga defeat to Almeria on Sunday (26 February), Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo has reported.
The Blaugrana had been handed a shock 1-0 defeat on the Energy Horse Stadium on Sunday night time. El Bilal Toure dispatched a surprising half-volley within the twenty fourth minute to place the hosts in entrance.
The Blaugrana pushed arduous to make a comeback within the second half however didn’t breach Almeria’s resistance. The defeat got here merely three days after their Europa League exit by the hands of Manchester United.
In line with the aforementioned report, Robert’s one-year contract extension was set to be signed on 1 March. Nevertheless, in gentle of their latest performances, Barcelona has pushed the occasion again. It has been claimed that the deal will now be introduced later this week or the next one.
It may be assumed that Barcelona needs to announce Roberto’s extension underneath brighter circumstances. The chance may come up in the event that they get the higher of their bitterest rivals Actual Madrid within the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final conflict on Thursday night time (2 March).
Roberto, 31, can’t solely play as a right-back, however he’s additionally able to working as a central or defensive midfielder. He has up to now performed 22 video games for Xavi’s facet in all competitions this season, scoring thrice and claiming three assists.
Xavi livid after Almeria defeat, calls it Barcelona’s “worst sport of the season”
La Liga leaders Barca didn’t impose their authority on Fifteenth-placed Almeria on Sunday night time. The Catalans struggled to maneuver the ball round, didn’t benefit from the 4 massive possibilities they created, and infrequently didn’t match Almeria’s depth.
Talking to the press after Barcelona’s 1-0 defeat to Almeria, Xavi expressed his anger over his males’s show. He mentioned (by way of Mid-day):
“I’m very indignant as a result of I believe we performed our worst sport of the season. Above all within the first half, we couldn’t transfer the ball round, we lacked depth, pace, on a day the place we couldn’t mess up.”
He added:
“We didn’t present the eagerness [we needed] to win the sport. Within the second half, sure, however they defended nicely.”
Had Barca gained at Almeria, they might have gone 10 factors away from second-placed Actual Madrid on the prime of the La Liga standings. Los Blancos drew 1-1 with Atletico Madrid on Saturday handy Barcelona a gilt-edged alternative to run away with the title.