Sergi Roberto insists he never had any intention of leaving Barcelona after officially signing a new contract with the LaLiga leaders.
The 26-year-old who started out his career playing in midfield but more recently has been converted into a right-back revealed he had dismissed interest from other clubs to pledge his future to Barca until 2022.
A regular under head coach Ernesto Valverde this season, Roberto has helped his boyhood club establish a seven-point lead over nearest rivals Atletico Madrid at the top of the table.
Since I started talking about the renewal, I wanted to be here. It s my club, he said at a press conference at Camp Nou.
It s true that other teams were interested, but I wanted to be here and I m happy to have renewed until 2022. And, if I can go on for longer, even better.
President Josep Maria Bartomeu praised the loyalty shown by Roberto, who joined Barcelona at the age of 14.
Sergi s an example for many players. We are grateful for his patience, his perseverance, he said.
He s had and will have a lot of offers, but we re thankful that he s decided to stay here.
: I have always wanted to be here, I have been a Barça fan since I was little. I have been at Barça for 12 years and my objective is to stay as long as possible
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona)
With his long-term future sorted, Roberto has now set his sights on forcing his way into Spain s squad in time for this year s World Cup.
He won the last of his three caps in September 2016, but believes there is still time to impress Julen Lopetegui and secure a place in the party for Russia.
Of course, it would be a dream to go to the World Cup, Roberto said.
It s really close now and I hope to get lucky and that the coach counts on me, because it s what every player wants.
I hope Julen Lopetegui gives me the chance to be at the World Cup. At the very least, I am going to work hard for it.
The career of is an example for our young players. Modesty, persistence, identification and talent define a 100% blaugrana path, His contract extension until 2022 reinforces the FC Barcelona sporting project
— Josep Maria Bartomeu (@jmbartomeu)
