“The time has come to declare that this will be my final campaign with Barcelona. It has been a voyage I will never forget, Sergio Busquets wrote on Instagram.
Sergio Busquets has won La Liga eight times and the Champions League three times with Barcelona before this season. The Catalans are poised to win the competition once more for the first time in four years.
The 34-year-old has made over 700 appearances for Barca since getting into the first team in 2008 under their former coach Pep Guardiola. He remained silent about his potential next move, while Spanish news sources have suggested he could join a Saudi Arabian team.
It’s been an honor, a dream, and a source of pride. For so many years, it has meant everything to be able to protect and represent this badge, but everything has a start and a finish. Busquets stated, “I think the time has come, even though it has not been an easy decision.
Xavi Hernandez, the head coach of Barcelona and a longtime teammate of Busquets in the midfield, urged the midfielder to return for the upcoming campaign but left it up to the player to make that decision.
When his contract with Barcelona expires, rumors suggest that the seasoned player favors a transfer to Major League Soccer in the United States, with Inter Miami among the listed teams. However, Spanish media recently linked the player to a move to the Saudi Arabian premier division.
Another player who could end up in the oil-rich kingdom is Busquets’ close friend and former Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, whose move to the Middle East was reportedly a “done deal,” according to individuals familiar with the negotiations.
Jorge Messi, the father and agent of Messi, stated that they will not make a decision about the future of the World Cup winner until the completion of the current campaign. They will wait until the end of the season to decide on Messi’s future. Busquets was an important member of the national squad for almost 15 years when he announced his retirement from international competition in December. He helped Spain win the World Cup in 2010 and the European Championship in 2012.
