Manchester City: Fans unimpressed by transfer links with Sergi Roberto

A number of Manchester City fans were left distinctly unimpressed by transfer reports linking them with a possible move for Barcelona’s Sergi Roberto.

Spanish media outlet Mundo Deportivo reported that the Premier League champions have shown an interest in signing the 28-year-old, about whom Manchester City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain has made enquiries with the approval of Pep Guardiola. The La Liga club are only interested in selling him outright and aren’t willing to enter a swap deal. The story was later shared on Twitter by @City_Xtra.

#ManCity have shown an interest in Barcelona midfielder Sergi Roberto (28), with the approval of Pep Guardiola. If a transfer goes through, Barça would only be willing to accept money, as opposed to a swap deal.

[@mundodeportivo via @barcacentre] pic.twitter.com/Vezgb9Tjj8

— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) June 3, 2020

Roberto, who has seven caps for Spain and is valued at £36m by TransferMarkt, has regularly played as a midfielder for Barcelona but has been primarily utilised at right-back this season, with a tepid return of one goal and two assists from 29 appearances.

Guardiola already has Kyle Walker as first-choice right-back and Joao Cancelo, who wins nearly twice as many tackles per game as Roberto (2.3 to 1.2), as the Englishman’s backup. The Spaniard also contributes little going forward compared to Walker, whose 0.6 shots per game average trumps the Barcelona man’s 0.2.

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These Manchester City fans on Twitter aren’t keen on having the Spain international at the Etihad:

https://twitter.com/CW1LK5/status/1268119139790577664

Please don’t

— Omer 🇸🇩 ✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼 (@KunMerchant) June 3, 2020

Not a type of defender City want. Cancelo is better that Roberto. Keep Cancelo and play him regularly

— Timothy Hunyenyewa (@THunyenyewa) June 3, 2020