After 18 years, Sergio Busquets says this is his last season at Barcelona

Busquets is looking to leave Barça on top

It’s truly the end of an era at the Camp Nou.

Sergio Busquets, after 18 years and over 700 appearances, has announced that this will be his final season with Barcelona.

“Hello culers!” began Busquets’ statement, which the club posted Wednesday on its social media accounts. “The time has come to announce that this will be my last season with Barça.”

Busquets’ announcement comes with Barcelona on the verge of adding to the extensive list of trophies that it has won with him on its books. Barça is atop La Liga by some distance, holding a 13-point edge over Atlético Madrid with five games to play. A single win, or a single point should Atlético drop any points from now until the end of the season, will mark the ninth time Busquets has been part of a La Liga championship-winning side.

“I always dreamed of playing with this shirt and at this stadium, and reality has exceeded all of my dreams,” continued Busquets. “Everything has a beginning and an end, and although it has not been an easy decision, I think the time has come.”

Busquets has been a fixture at the base of the Barcelona midfield for nearly 20 years, and that hasn’t changed even as he prepares to depart the club. He has started 24 of a possible 33 league matches in 2022-23, with his most recent appearance taking him up to 719 in all competitions for the club.

Only Lionel Messi and Barça’s current manager Xavi have more in the team’s history.

Along with the league success, Busquets played a major role in three Champions League titles, three Club World Cup victories, and seven triumphs in the Copa del Rey.

All of that success at the club level came while Busquets racked up 143 caps for Spain, winning the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championship.

What’s next for Busquets?

While Busquets appears to be departing on his own terms, he leaves after a season that underlined the financial realities at Barcelona. Busquets is said to be one of the club’s top earners, and Barça scrambled to register players after a summer spending spree left it in violation of La Liga regulations.

It is not clear where Busquets will end up next. He has been persistently linked to an MLS move over the last two seasons, with Inter Miami top of the list, but The Athletic has reported that his enthusiasm for coming to the United States has dimmed. That report also says that like virtually every famous player right now, he has received a hefty offer to ply his trade in Saudi Arabia.

Speculation as to whether Busquets will end up being the latest big name to end up in the Saudi Pro League is inexorably linked to Messi, his longtime teammate and one of his best friends off the field.

After the announcement, Messi posted a congratulatory message for Busquets on Instagram.

“On the pitch you always wore No. 5, but as a player and a person you are a perfect 10 out of 10, Busi,” wrote Messi. “Thank you for everything we shared on and off the pitch.”

It is looking increasingly likely that Messi will end up accepting an eye-watering sum to play in Saudi Arabia next year. Ironically, those rumors come just as Barcelona is said to be trying to lure Messi back to the club, a situation that likely won’t be helped with Busquets walking out the door.

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