By Andreas Vou (@AndreasVou89)

While it has become a growing trend for La Masia graduates to leave FC Barcelona on the premise of regular football and a more lucrative wage packet elsewhere, there is one youth product who is slowly proving that patience can pay dividends in succeeding at the club.

On Saturday, Luis Suarez and Neymar typically grabbed the headlines for scoring a goal each in Barça’s 0-2 win at Getafe but it was Sergi Roberto who earned the plaudits for his involvement in both strikes.

The 23-year-old has had an excellent start to the season and his two assists over the weekend signaled his arrival as more than just a bit-part player but somebody who can excel into a key first-team member. An audacious back heel to set up Suarez followed by a measured cross to pick out Neymar for the second has made Roberto the talk of the town in Barcelona, but those who have been closely monitoring him his this season know this was simply the tip of the iceberg of his all-round contribution.

After making just four La Liga starts last campaign, he has been given a chance to prove himself by manager Luis Enrique this season, starting eight out of the ten league matches so far. It is a chance which Roberto looks intent on grasping. Whether it be in an unfamiliar right-back role or in his preferred central midfield position, his performances have not let up as he continues to evolve in a Barça shirt.

In recent years, it has become a tendency for products of Barça’s famed youth academy to leave at a young age when an offer comes in from abroad. With regular first team football and more money on the table, many have decided to call it quits at Camp Nou rather than pursue making the grade in the first team.

Granted, in recent years, the club has not focused on youth as it once used to, preferring to cash in on many of its youngsters rather than wean them into the first team, while constant big-money signings has naturally sent the message that instant success is the priority, causing some of their rising stars to consider their options.

But if there was ever testament to the fact that patience and hard graft can have its rewards at Barça, without necessarily having God-given ability, Sergi Roberto is living proof of it. The Reus-born player has not been short of links with a move to the Premier League in recent years but he has remained set on proving himself at the club he loves and is finally starting to see some reward after an enduring effort.

Plenty have opted to try their luck elsewhere rather than stick it out at Barça: the likes of Oriol Romeu, Antonio Sanabria, Bojan Krkic and Giovani dos Santos are just a handful of those who sought to fast-track their careers when first-team opportunities at Barça were limited but have since failed to make the impact they envisioned.  

On the other hand, Roberto’s commitment and dedication to making the grade draws comparisons with some other greats who had to wait patiently before getting his shot at the club. Legendary captain Carles Puyol only made his debut for the club at 21 years of age and had to wait until the 2001-02 season, when he was 23, to become a first team regular. Despite making his debut at 18, Andres Iniesta played almost every position for the team including full-back, as Roberto has been this season, before becoming a first team regular at the age of 22. And Pedro Rodriguez had played just 365 La Liga minutes for Barça by age 22 before his breakthrough campaign which saw him propel to an indispensible first team player. 

While not attempting to compare his potential to that of past greats just yet, his dedication makes a refreshing change in the modern game where the great majority seek a quick-fix solution when the going gets tough.

Where more naturally-gifted players have fallen, Sergi Roberto’s determination, patience and professionalism are getting the rewards he has long craved for and could set the example for other Barça youngsters coming through the ranks.