Sergio Busquets is one of those players who only understand those who dedicate themselves body and soul to football. Always away from the great individual recognitions and oblivious to the fanfare of the red carpets, the midfielder, who will turn 35 next July, is still considered very useful for the cause. And he does not see the end, no matter how much he decided to retire from the Spanish team after the World Cup in Qatar and the dismissal of Luis Enrique, one of his main defenders. This Wednesday, at the Camp Nou, the midfielder will return to face Real Madrid in the second leg of the semifinals of the Copa del Rey. No one has played more classics than him (if he dresses this time also short he will have already reached 48).
Will it be the last?
The decision has not yet been made, as they admit in their private circle, but in the club they begin to be optimistic about their continuity.
The emotional ties keep Busquets subject for now, who celebrates his fifteenth season in the first team of Barcelona and is proud of his work as captain. But the player, who on June 30 exhausts his current contract, is also clear that, if he accepts the renewal proposal made by the board of Joan Laporta, he would only continue one more year at the club. No possibility of including continuity clauses. Barcelona must still pay him this summer the large amount of the amounts deferred at the time by the government of Josep Maria Bartomeu, including the end of contract premium. The midfielder of Badia, whose gross annual salary exceeds 20 million euros, would be willing to accept a low offer, but without supposing this a reduction of more than 50% of his salary.
Beyond money, Busquets is taking into account several other aspects. Especially the insistence with which his former teammate and now foreman, Xavi Hernández, demands that he remain in the team. Above all, taking into account the economic inability of the club to hire a substitute at the height. Xavi convinced that Frenkie de Jong expands much better as an interior than as a midfielder, and without being clear that Nico González, loaned to Valencia, can perform in the position once recovered, the coach tested last Saturday against Elche the central Eric Garcia. Meanwhile, the sports management knows that it can not assume the clause of 60 million euros of Martin Zubimendi, the pivot of Real Sociedad that should fulfill the aspirations of Xavi.
The reunion with Messi
There is one more edge, important, although not decisive. Busquets is awaiting news about the future of his close friend Leo Messi, whom Laporta intends to recruit in a maneuver in which it is difficult to separate reality from fiction.
On the other hand, there are plenty of reasons for Busquets to still think about his future at the insistence of foreign courtship. His agents have been receiving proposals from European clubs that the player has not wanted to hear. Yes, he has been attentive to the offers made by Saudi Arabian football, a destination that initially did not attract him too much, but that has in the economic component its great and unique attraction [Cristiano Ronaldo agreed with Al-Nassr a salary of about 198 million euros gross per season].
Busquets' representatives have also been receiving proposals from several Major League Soccer teams, although the midfielder is clear that, if he accepts the American adventure – a life project with which he always thought he should conclude his career as a footballer – he would do it with Inter Miami. It is the Florida club that David Beckham chose to lead the way, and where Busquets always thought it would be a good place to reunite with Messi. Although the Argentine, booed again this weekend at the Parc des Princes, does not know if it is time, convinced as he is to continue in high-level football to be able to play with full guarantees the Copa America of 2024. Messi is still torn between accepting PSG's renewal proposal or being bewitched by the dream of a return to Barcelona.
- FC Barcelona
- Sergio Busquets
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