Roberto: ‘I cannot imagine a Barcelona without Lionel Messi’

Sergi Roberto admitted Lionel Messi’s potential exit had him worried, but is adamant his Barcelona teammate will continue to give ‘100%’.

Messi left Barcelona fans on the edge of their seats by handing in a formal transfer request to end his career-long association with the club.

The 33-year-old planned to trigger an option in his contract that would make it void this summer. Therefore, he could have left as a free agent only for Josep Maria Bartomeu to step in. The Barcelona president claimed the alleged clause expired on June 10 and rejected the request as a result.

After the outcome of Bartomeu’s decision, Messi chose to remain at Camp Nou rather than take Barcelona to court.

“I thought the same as all the Catalans, that it could not be true that Messi did not continue with us,” Roberto told RAC1 on the transfer saga.

“I cannot imagine a Barca without Leo and I crossed my fingers so that he would stay. I see him training very well. He is a very professional player and I have no doubt that he will always give 100 percent for this shirt and this club.”

❗ In his first month, Koeman has changed the system (4-2-3-1) and certain work habits and wanting to return a certain culture. He has been firm with Suárez and sincere with Riqui Puig. And he maintains the coach-player distance with Messi [as] pic.twitter.com/bIevqQs4Ak

— FCBarcelonaFl 🏆 (@FCBarcelonaFl) September 23, 2020

The Catalan full-back is preparing for his first season under new coach Ronald Koeman after the club’s dismissal of Quique Setien and Ernesto Valverde in the past year.

The former Netherlands boss has already some bold changes to the fold, but Roberto has faith in him.

“He [Koeman] has made us work a lot,” he said on the Dutchman.“The training sessions have been very long.

“We are working very well. He tells the players things clearly and that is good for the team. I fully trust the coach and all the players.”