Balde also wants to stay
FC Barcelona has undergone a major upheaval in recent years, more than half of the current squad has been with the club for a maximum of one and a half seasons. Two of the longest-serving pros, captain Sergio Busquets and Sergi Roberto, could leave the Catalans on a free transfer in the summer as their contracts expire. Coach Xavi, who was still on the pitch with both of them as an active player, is still optimistic about possible extensions and also believes in the long-term whereabouts of the talents Alejandro Balde and Ansu Fati.
“Sergi is a very important player for me,” said the 43-year-old (quoted via „Barcawelt“) at the press conference before the game at FC Villarreal (9 p.m.). “He can adapt to all kinds of positions, always delivers, he’s professional, never complains. Its flexibility is a guarantee. I really want him to stay with us. There is not much left until the contract is extended.”
Roberto has been part of the Blaugrana squad since 2013 and has played a total of 334 games since then – 25 of them with his current coach. From the current squad, only Jordi Alba (since 2012) and Busquets (2008) have been under longer contract with Barcelona. The 34-year-old also does not yet have a working paper for the coming season.
“There will be no problem with ‘Busi’,” Xavi is certain. “He knows what he means to us. He’s a club legend and now he has to decide how he wants to continue. He, Laporta and I had a very good conversation, but the decision is his alone.”
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FC Barcelona: Xavi believes in extending Balde – Fati “unsellable”
In the current season, Barça is well on the way to their first championship title since 2018/19 and is currently eight points ahead of Real Madrid (to the table). Alejandro Balde is one of the top performers and positive surprises of the season. The 19-year-old has established himself at left-back and was allowed to travel with the Spanish national team to the World Cup in Qatar, where he made his debut against Costa Rica in the first group game.
Balde still has a contract with Barcelona until 2024. “I talked to him, we had a one-on-one meeting. He wants to stay and he’s 100 percent convinced of that because he’s happy here. I think in him we have a player who will stay with us for many years to come,” said Xavi.
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Ansu Fati is still tied to the club until 2027, who has not yet found his performance limit again after a break of almost a year and a half due to injury. Nevertheless, there had recently been rumors of interest from the Premier League, for example. Xavi emphasized at the press conference: “For me he is not for sale. The transfer window is closed and no one can come or go. I do not understand that. For the whole of January nobody was talking about Ansu’s departure and now you’re starting to do it.” The 20-year-old has made 31 appearances this season (six goals, three assists).
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