Sergio Busquets, the long-serving midfielder of Barcelona, has announced that he will be leaving the club at the end of his contract this summer, marking the end of his remarkable 18-year tenure at the Nou Camp.
Busquets, who has been with Barcelona since he was 15 years old, made the announcement in a Twitter video where he revealed that he would not be renewing his contract, which expires on June 30. Having captained his boyhood club since 2021, this decision marks a significant departure for the 34-year-old.
Throughout his illustrious career, Busquets has made over 700 appearances for Barcelona, earning himself a place as one of the club’s most esteemed players. He has accumulated an impressive collection of 23 major honors, including eight La Liga titles and three Champions Leagues.
Despite his advancing years, Busquets has remained a pivotal figure in the Barcelona first team, consistently making at least 30 appearances in each of his 15 seasons with the senior squad. In fact, only five players have featured more times for the club in the current campaign.
Busquets’ rise to prominence coincided with the era of Pep Guardiola at Barcelona. Under Guardiola’s guidance, Busquets made his La Liga debut in September 2008 and quickly became an integral part of the team’s formidable midfield trio alongside Andres Iniesta and Xavi, who is now the manager of Barcelona.
Even at the age of 19, Busquets displayed his exceptional abilities, making 41 appearances in his debut season and securing his first La Liga, Champions League, and Copa Del Rey titles. His contributions on the pitch have been invaluable to the club’s success over the years.
Reflecting on his departure, Busquets expressed his gratitude and shared his heartfelt sentiments in the video, stating, “It has been an unforgettable journey. Since I was a child coming to the matches, or watching them on TV, I always dreamed of playing with this shirt at this stadium.” He went on to express his disbelief that he would go on to play 15 seasons for the “best club in the world.”
Busquets’ final match for Barcelona could potentially be a friendly against Vissel Kobe in Tokyo on June 6. This would provide a fitting farewell for Barcelona’s legendary midfield trio, with Iniesta still playing for the Japanese side and Xavi currently serving as the head coach of Barcelona.
In addition to his successes at Barcelona, Busquets also enjoyed an illustrious international career, earning 143 caps for Spain and being a key figure in their triumphs at the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championships.
As Barcelona sits comfortably 13 points clear at the top of La Liga, Busquets is likely to sign off with yet another domestic trophy. Xavi’s team can secure the league title with a victory against Espanyol on Sunday, providing a fitting end to Busquets’ remarkable journey with the club.
