Xavi confirms "individual chat with Balde" as renewal talks progress with left-back
Barcelona want to tie the left-back down to a long-term deal
As Barcelona president Joan Laporta said last Thursday: "Balde's renewal is practically closed."
On Saturday, Xavi confirmed his words explaining that he met individually with the full-back and confirming that: "Balde wants to stay, he is happy, I think we will have a player for many years, I don't think there will be a problem."
The home-grown player has become a fundamental part of Xavi's plans and, although it is true that he 'competes' with Jordi Alba, who is in a great moment of form, for a place on the left flank, he has had many minutes and will continue to do so for many years.
Sergi Roberto's renewal
On the other side of the pitch, Sergi Roberto's continuity has yet to be confirmed. It is close, though, and Xavi wanted to stress the importance of one of the captains of the team: "He is very important. We insist that he stays; we are close to him renewing."
At the same time, he also wanted to highlight the versatility and the solutions that having a player like him provides: "He's very professional, always has a good attitude. It's a guarantee to have him in the squad, playing as a midfielder or as a full-back."
