Barcelona club captain Sergi Roberto 'turns down a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia for political reasons'... with the midfielder's contract set to run out after 18 years in Catalonia
- Midfielder joined boyhood club in 2006 and has notched up 363 appearances
- But with his contract due to come to an end in June his Barca future is uncertain
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Barcelona star Sergi Roberto is believed to have turned down an offer from Saudi First Division club Al-Qadsiah for political reasons, according to reports.
The club captain and former academy prospect is likely to call time on his career at the Camp Nou after nearly 20 years affilated with the team when his contract expires at the end of the season.
Al-Qadsiah have recently appointed former Olympiacacos and Sevilla head coach Michel with an eye on promotion to the Kingdom's top flight, and sit eight points clear at the summit of Saudi Arabia's second tier.
But while the club is keen to recruit from the top European leagues in a bid to compete with the blockbuster signings of potential Saudi Pro League rivals, they are said to have been thwarted in their pursuit of the 32-year-old.
As per Mundo Deportivo, the midfielder rejected the offer due to personal, rather than footballing, issues with the Saudi side.
![Sergi Roberto (pictured with his wife Cora Simanovich) is thought to have turned down an offer from Saudi Arabia](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/28/09/81812489-13135021-image-m-24_1709111434663.jpg)
Sergi Roberto (pictured with his wife Cora Simanovich) is thought to have turned down an offer from Saudi Arabia
![The Barcelona captain will be out of contract with his boyhood side at the end of the season](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/28/09/81812775-13135021-image-a-25_1709111486582.jpg)
The Barcelona captain will be out of contract with his boyhood side at the end of the season
![Saudi First Division side Al-Qadsiah have appointed former Sevilla head coach Michel in a bid to win promotion](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/28/09/81812579-13135021-image-a-26_1709111492517.jpg)
Saudi First Division side Al-Qadsiah have appointed former Sevilla head coach Michel in a bid to win promotion
The lack of interest in a move to the Gulf state is thought to stem from his concern for his wife, American-Israeli model Cora Simanovich.
As conflict between Israel and Hamas roils on in Gaza, Roberto is believed to be unwilling to book a move to a country that does not recognise Israeli sovereignty and has no diplomatic relations with Israel.
Instead, Roberto is said to be interested in a move to the United States to feature in MLS, following in the footsteps of former Barcelona team-mates Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Sergio Busquets at Inter Miami.
Departing head coach Xavi is thought to be keen on helping Roberto to continue his spell with the Blaugrana, but Roberto is yet to be offered a new contract.
But while the decision could lie in the hands of the manager's successor, keeping hold of the player for an additional year could prove to a savvy decision for the financially stricken side due to his comparatively low salary.
![Roberto is thought to be uninterested in the move due to Simanovich's US-Israeli heritage](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/28/09/81812487-13135021-image-a-27_1709111510489.jpg)
Roberto is thought to be uninterested in the move due to Simanovich's US-Israeli heritage
![The midfielder first met the New York-born model in 2014 and they married in Tel Aviv in 2018](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/28/09/81812485-13135021-The_couple_first_met_in_2014_and_have_been_married_since_2018_sh-m-30_1709111800746.jpg)
The midfielder first met the New York-born model in 2014 and they married in Tel Aviv in 2018
![Roberto is thought to instead be keen on a potenial move to MLS - where former team-mates including Luis Suarez (right) are currently plying their trade](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/28/09/81812845-13135021-image-a-29_1709111567905.jpg)
Roberto is thought to instead be keen on a potenial move to MLS - where former team-mates including Luis Suarez (right) are currently plying their trade
Amid the turbulence of Barcelona's season, Roberto has been enjoying strong form for the Catalan side, scoring three times and providing a further assist in LaLiga.
The player could yet stay in Spain at a different top-flight side too, with Atletico Madrid among Barcalona's rivals interested in signing their captain as a free agent in June.
Michel's appointment in October at Al-Qadsiah came at the expense of former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler, who was appointed just months earlier at the start of the season.
Fowler oversaw an unbeaten run in the second tier before he was handed his marching orders, but the former Real Madrid player has lifted the side from second in the table to first.
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