DBasia.news – Barcelona’s La Masia Academy is well-known for its reputation as a talented talent in Europe. Lionel Messi and Gerard Pique are two La Masia’s alumni who are currently successfully playing long in the Barcelona first team.
In addition to the two names above, there is still one player built by La Masia who is now also one of the mainstay players, namely Sergi Roberto. The 27-year-old was successfully promoted to the main Blaugrana squad in 2010 or when he was just 18 years old.
While in Barcelona’s uniform, players who can be placed as right-backs or midfielders have also successfully presented 20 prestigious trophies, including five La Liga trophies, Copa del Rey and Supercopa de Espana. Not forgetting the two Champions League titles won by the 2010/11 and 2014/15 seasons.
But now a surprising statement was delivered by players born in Reus, Spain. Sergi Roberto admitted that he had refused an offer to join Real Madrid.
“At that time I was carrying out Nastic U15, then the Real Madrid academy director made contact with the club and invited me to practice. A few days later, Barcelona reacted immediately and expressed interest in Nastic to bring me,” said Sergi Roberto as reported Goal.
“At that time I didn’t really care about Real Madrid and decided to undergo a probationary period with Barcelona, everything went well and they asked me to stay. Other things (interests from Madrid) were forgotten. I’ve become a Barca fan since childhood, “he added.
Sergi Roberto’s decision to stay with Barcelona is definitely the right thing, now in the 2018/19 season, he is also one of Ernesto Valverde’s mainstays and still has the chance to defend the La Liga and Copa del Rey titles and win the Champions League.