Why Sergi Roberto Is Barcelona Player Most in Need of the International Break

Sergi Roberto has enjoyed his most outstanding season to date with Barcelona.

His performances since the pre-season tour of the United States have been of real quality—as if a "now-or-never" narrative had hit home.

While no player is indispensable, Roberto has become an invaluable player to Luis Enrique and his team-mates.

Not only is he content to fill in at a variety of positions—seven at the last count—but there is no drop-off in application and endeavour in any of them.

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The term "utility player" has often been frowned upon, but in Roberto's case, it has been a godsend for both player and club.

Before this season, the 24-year-old was enduring a Marc Bartra-esque promise of game time but a reality that was very different.

Along with Bartra, it wouldn't have been a surprise for Roberto to have at least tested the waters elsewhere with a view to a move to further his career.

Where he was fortunate was that injuries left Enrique no option but to throw Roberto into the pre-season starting lineup in an unfamiliar right-back role.

And just those few games allowed the player to build up the confidence to showcase the skills that everyone knew were there but hadn't been seen to any great degree before that point.

Paul Wilkes of Four Four Two noted Roberto's own words on the switch:

"

Luis Enrique initially suggested the change to right-back casually during the summer and then put me in this new position while we were on our tour.

He told me how he was signed as a striker and ended up playing full-back, midfield and just about everywhere else.

Previously, I was always an attacking midfielder for Barça and had never played full-back in my life. But I'm adapting well and am fine with it now.

"

Hard-working, energetic and adapting to each role with consummate ease, it was surely only a matter of time before international honours beckoned.

Spain head coach Vicente del Bosque answered the call by handing Roberto his first senior call-up for the pre-Euro 2016 friendlies against Italy and Romania.

Per Dermot Corrigan of ESPN FC, Del Bosque said:

"

Sergi Roberto has played everywhere—he is capable of playing in many different positions. But we see him as a midfielder. That is where he has played for the underage Spain teams.

He has played well in some games at right back for Barca—they play a very attacking style, and he can fit in anywhere.

"

Such a personal boost for Roberto only enhances his credibility, but he'll need to go above and beyond to become a regular fixture in the national side.

Barcelona team-mates Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets are virtually guaranteed their places in the national team's starting XI, so Roberto needs to fight it out with the likes of David Silva, Cesc Fabregas, Thiago Alcantara, Isco and Koke.

That's a huge roll call of talent, but Roberto deserves to be in there and just needs to show in training that Del Bosque would be making a huge mistake by leaving him out of both games.

He is one of a handful of players—Athletic Club Bilbao's Aritz Aduriz being another—that needs to make their mark on the international stage.

If these type of friendlies are designed to help Del Bosque make up his mind on who he wishes to take to France in the summer, then Roberto et al need to be getting as much time on the pitch as possible.