I think Semedo is a better defensive player but lacks a little bit in offense (ie link up play and crosses). Roberto is the opposite of that...lacks in defense but makes it up in offense
Attacking was actually Semedo's strongest suit. Kinda hard to integrate into the team and your team mates' movement if you play two games and are benched for the next five.
It depends on Valverde now. If he gives Semedo a chance next season from the start I think he'll have a breakout year and make the position his own.
I don't get the whole rage about him not being a RB, Kimmich is a midfielder who plays a RB, Parteynow plays RB for AM too, Fabinho plays both positions and there is plenty of other examples. This is like Mascherano being called "not a CB" which lasted for over half decade.
Difference here is that Roberto is not what Mascherano was for us as a CB. He's also not like Kimmich for Bayern who is far superior both in attack and defence. Fabinho plays both position, but won't start at RB for most teams and Partey did it for a couple of games.
There is a difference between doing something just because others are able to do it as well, and being able to do it very well consistently. Even the Barca management don't rate Roberto as a RB considering they paid a premium for a RB. If they did, they would have gotten a good, depth player for far less instead like Bayern will considering Kimmich has solidified himself as Lahm's successor having played amazingly consistently against every opposition with Germany and Bayern.
He has a few good games that papers over all the cracks. It did last year and it's the same this season.
In Spain he's the 4th choice RB. Carvajal, Odriozola and Azpilicueta are all ahead of him and this is by a manager who managed his age group. He's not that good and we should be able to do better.
Had Roberto not been from La Masia he never would have played at RB for so long.