Sergi Roberto can STILL be useful to Barcelona

#2 Perfect fit under Xavi?

Under Valverde and Koeman, Roberto was either utilized as an overlapping full-back or a box-to-box midfielder. The Remontada hero is smart in possession and a good passer of the ball. He also has an outstanding work rate and is a good tackler. Roberto was often overlooked as a mid-fielder due to the availability of more technically gifted players. At right-back, his 1v1 ability and recovery speed often came under scrutiny. This meant Roberto was often looked at as the jack-of-all-trades but master of none.

However, Xavi’s system could change that narrative. The three-time Champions League winner has implemented a 4-3-3 formation, with a few notable innovations. Xavi often instructs his wingers to maintain width, allowing the full-backs to invert. Both Dest and Dani Alves have been experimented in such a role with decent success. Sergi Roberto provides the perfect profile for the role: athletic, tidy in possession, hard-working, and versatile. It would be a shame not to see the 30-year-old in the right-back position at least once under Xavi.