Sergio Busquets will join Major League Soccer side Inter Miami, teaming up with former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi.
Busquets, 34, played his entire professional career at Camp Nou, most of it with Messi, before leaving Barcelona at the end of the season.
Inter Miami teased the midfielder’s deal in a social media post on Friday, but are now confirming his signing on a two-year deal.
“Inter Miami CF today announced that legendary Spanish midfielder Sergio Busquets has signed until the 2025 Major League Soccer (MLS) season,” the club said in a statement.
The former FC Barcelona captain, a one-time World Cup winner, nine-time La Liga winner and considered one of the greatest midfielders of all time, has secured a designated spot and will join the team in the coming days.”
Inter Miami’s managing owner Jorge Mas also commented on the transfer, calling the midfielder a “world-class talent”.
He said: “I am thrilled to welcome Sergio Busquets to Inter Miami. From day one we have been committed to bringing the best player in the world to Inter Miami. Sergio’s repertoire It speaks for itself.”
“We are very happy to bring a player of Sergio’s pedigree to Inter Miami. He is one of the smartest players to have played the sport. It affects every aspect of play,” said Chief Football Officer and Sports Director Chris Henderson. “Sergio is a winner, a leader, a world-class talent and we look forward to seeing him represent our franchise.”
Busquets confirmed last month that his next move would be outside Europe, but he is not only considering a move to the United States, but has also received a contract offer from a Saudi Arabian club and is linked to Al Hilal. had been reported.
However, Inter Miami have been looking for Messi and have been considering a possible deal with Busquets for months, particularly with the number 10 and number 5 jerseys aimed at signing both players. I left it alone.
🐐 Video message from Leo Messi to Sergio Busquets: pic.twitter.com/v5SbAX8VG6
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) May 31, 2023
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Busquets made his last appearance for Barcelona last month when the La Liga champions defeated Mallorca 3-0 in the final home game of the season.
He made 722 appearances and left the club with nine La Liga titles and three Champions League trophies.
“There will never be a player like Busquets again.”
Analysis by John Muller of The Athletic
He was the secret to Barcelona, Spain and perhaps the game itself.
When he slipped into Barcelona’s first team in 2008, Busquets was known only to Pep Guardiola, who was coaching him at Barcelona B. The team’s starting defensive midfielder was the immensely talented Yaya Toure tearing up the ground like a tractor, but Guardiola saw something in La Masia’s willowy kid. He could see the future.
Busquets’ genius existed in a kind of negative space. It was about what didn’t happen. He avoided pressure because he was always in the right position. He used his body to carve out space, so few touches missed. He checked my shoulder so it wasn’t a problem. He knew where his ball was going so he didn’t have to dribble. His passing was simple and clean, so he didn’t lose the ball or put his teammates in a pinch. He expected turnovers, so he didn’t have to chase counterattacks or make flashy tackles. He blocked the passing lane, so the danger never occurred.
A jeweler’s perfection is the absence of flaws. It was Busquets. He was so good that at times he was almost invisible.
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Honoring Sergio Busquets – an invisible genius that cannot be ignored
(Photo Credit: Alex Kaparos/Getty Images)
