Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets has announced he will leave the club in the summer after spending 18 years at the Nou Camp. Busquets stated in a Twitter video that he will not be renewing his contract when it ends on June 30 despite having spent his whole professional career at the club where his father previously played. Since 2021, he has served as the club’s captain. In his more than 700 appearances for his hometown team, the 34-year-old originally joined Barca from Jabac Terrassa when he was 15 years old. During this time, he won 23 major awards, including eight La Liga championships and three Champions Leagues.
Only five players have appeared for the club more this season than Busquets, who has been a consistent part of the Barcelona first team even in his later years. During his 15 seasons with the senior squad, Busquets has made at least 30 appearances. His ascent served as a symbol of the Pep Guardiola era in Catalonia; the current Barcelona manager, Xavi, and Andres Iniesta formed a strong midfield triangle after he made his LaLiga debut under the then-new manager in September 2008.
“The journey was very memorable. I’ve always fantasized of wearing this jersey in this stadium ever since I first started going to games or watching them on TV as a kid,” Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets said. “All of my dreams have been surpassed by reality. I wouldn’t have believed you if you had told me when I first came here as a young player that I would spend 15 seasons playing for the finest club in the world, the club of my life, and that I would reach 700 matches while being a captain and supporter of the club.”
With Iniesta still a regular player for the Japanese team and Xavi serving as the current head coach of Barcelona, Busquets’ farewell match for the club may be a recently planned exhibition match against Vissel Kobe in Tokyo on June 6. Along with his accolades with Barcelona, Busquets also garnered 143 caps for Spain and helped his nation win the 2010 World Cup and 2012 European Championships.
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