Sergi Roberto bids emotional farewell to Barcelona – ‘La Masia is the heart of this club’

Two days after officially announcing his exit from FC Barcelona, departing club captain Sergi Roberto bid goodbye to the club of his life in an emotional farewell ceremony at Auditori 1899 today.

The event was attended by almost all the current Barcelona players, along with club legends like Xavi Hernandez, Carles Puyol, and Gerard Pique, as well as club officials like Joan Laporta and Rafa Yuste.

Sergi Roberto’s speech

Before he answered the questions from the media, Roberto gave an emotional speech during which he highlighted what La Masia and Barcelona meant to him as well as thanked everyone at the club, fans and his family.

“In recent years I have seen teammates say goodbye and today it’s my turn. I’ve been a Culé since I was a child, at the age of 14 I fulfilled the dream of wearing the shirt and I lived every moment as the last because I didn’t know how long it would last,” he said.

“After two years going back and forth to Reus I went to live at La Masia and those were the best years of my life. I made friends there and grew up learning the values of this club. La Masia is and will be the great value of this club.”

Continuing, he added: “Who would have thought that I would play 373 games for the club of my life and be the first captain, taking over from Messi, Busi, Xavi and company.

“To the fans, I would have liked to say goodbye on the pitch but I will be eternally grateful for your support over the years, where we have experienced unforgettable moments. I will always carry you in my heart.”

Roberto then proceeded to wish the best for his now former teammates and thanked his family, before saying:

“I leave proud, I have given everything for 18 years and Barça is and will be the club of my life. This period is coming to an end but I’m sure our paths will cross again. Visca el Barça.”

Roberto talks La Masia, captaincy, future

Roberto then went on to answer a few questions from the media present at the ceremony, as he started out by saying:

“It’s much more difficult to make this speech than to go out and play in front of 100,000 people.”

Reflecting on everything he has achieved at the club, the former captain added: “When I started at the age of 14 I couldn’t have imagined making my debut in the first team, and then being with all my teammates and the titles we’ve won.

“It’s something that will stay with me forever, but those are numbers and I’ll keep the experience I’ve had over the years.”

When asked to recount his most memorable moments during his time at the club, Roberto chose his first-team debut as well as the time he became the first captain of the team, saying:

“Along with the debut against Ceuta, being first captain would be the other most important milestone of my career,” he remarked.

“I have had great captains from whom I have learned and it has been a source of pride and I have tried to do my best. Now I leave the armband in the good hands of Marc (Ter Stegen).”

Roberto was then asked to name the favourite goal he has scored at Barcelona and he was unable to decide between a few special strikes, as he said:

“It’s difficult to choose just one goal. I could have the first one at Camp Nou against Bate Borisov, against Madrid it’s always important.

“And of course the one against PSG, it’s one of the most incredible moments I’ve experienced among the fans, everyone remembers it and it’s a goal that will be remembered as one of the most magical nights.”

Signing off, the former captain had a key piece of advice for the youngsters at La Masia, urging them to stay patient and keep working hard.

“La Masia is the heart of this club, I would tell them to have a lot of patience. With my father we always said that you have to be kicked out of Barça and I fought every year to achieve my dream, which was to make it to the first team,” he said.

“I would tell them that if their dream is that they should work hard, that opportunities come and that this is the best club in the world.

“The effort will be worth it and it has served me well, always respecting my teammates and helping as much as I could, with calm, hard work and effort.”

Source: BarçaOne