Sergio Roberto Signs Barcelona Contract Renewal Until 2022

Sergi Roberto signed a contract renewal at Barcelona on Friday that will keep him at the Camp Nou until 2022. 

Barcelona announced the news via their official website, with a €500 million buyout clause included in the 25-year-old's contract.

Spanish football journalists David Cartlidge and Graham Hunter welcomed the news:

Sergi Roberto joined the club as a youngster in 2006 and worked his way through the ranks at the Blaugrana's La Masia academy before making his senior debut in 2010 at the age of 18.

Perhaps as a result of the competition he faced for places, Sergi Roberto struggled to make an impact at the Camp Nou as he operated on the fringe of the first team. 

The midfielder has grown increasingly important in recent years, though, making 121 of his 178 Barca appearances in the last two-and-a-half seasons.

From a personal standpoint, his best moment in a Barcelona shirt thus far came last season when he scored in the 95th minute to complete a 6-5 comeback against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League, after his side lost 4-0 in the first leg:

He possesses all the hallmarks of a player who has successfully come through La Masia—he's intelligent and technically adept, with excellent distribution.

Combined with his work ethic, incisive runs and ability to link attack and defence, he's an outstanding long-term option for the Catalan giants in midfield.

He's versatile, too, though that has perhaps counted against him as he has often been utilised as a right-back, a position he is not as naturally suited to, per Grup 14's Rafael Hernandez:

It's nevertheless a useful trait to be able to fill in there, and securing his long-term future is a strong move from Barcelona.

Sergi Roberto has the potential to achieve great things at the Camp Nou, and this renewal will give him the opportunity to do that.