Sergi Roberto to take 50% pay cut to stay at Barcelona

Sergi Roberto is close to finalising a new Barcelona contract that will see him reduce his wages by 50% in order to stay with his boyhood club.

The 30-year-old rose through Barça's famed La Masia academy and has gone on to make 316 appearances for the senior team thus far, but has been heavily linked with a summer exit with his deal set to expire in June.

However, Mundo Deportivo report that Roberto will shun advances from Atletico Madrid and a handful of Serie A and Premier League sides in order to sign a new contract at Barcelona with a significant salary reduction.

MD write that an intervention from Xavi has been key to negotiations that will see Roberto earn just 50% of his current wages.

While an agreement hasn't formally been reached, Roberto's camp have signalled that they are ready to finalise these terms and the midfielder will soon sign on the dotted line.

Roberto has missed much of this current season with a hamstring injury and has only featured a handful of times under Xavi.

In his absence, Barcelona have climbed up La Liga and currently sit in second place, though a recent blip in form has threatened their push to qualify for next season's Champions League. They now sit six points clear of fifth-placed Real Betis with five games remaining.