Sergi Roberto: Real Madrid wanted me before Barcelona

Barça almost missed out on adding Roberto to their academy

Sergi Roberto has revealed that before he got an offer to join FC Barcelona’s academy, Real Madrid had invited him first.

The Reus-born player started at Santes Creus before joining Gimnàstic de Tarragona’s academy in 2004. Two years later, aged 14, Madrid came in with an offer.

“Real Madrid asked for me,” the midfielder-turned-fullback admitted to TV3. “A few days later, Barcelona also made contact with Nàstic and my father, who was a Madrid fan back then.”

Roberto joined La Masia despite his father’s allegiances.

“After discussions, we decided that the Barça offer was the best,” Roberto concluded.

He says his dad is now a Barcelona supporter through and through.

Source: barcablaugranes.com