Sergio Busquets is ending his “unforgettable journey” with barcelona.
In a video uploaded to social media, Busquets, whose contract expires at the end of this year, announced his decision.
The 34-year-old Busquets said, “It hasn’t been an easy decision, but the time has come. To be able to wear this badge has been an honor, a dream, and a source of pride.
Busquets joined Barcelona in 2005, and after two seasons with the under-19s, he was promoted to a Guardiola-coached “B” team. He assisted the “B” team in getting promoted, and in 2008, he finally made his first-team debut.
After Xavi and record-holder Lionel Messi, he has appeared in 718 games for Barcelona overall. With the Catalan club, Busquets has won 31 championships, including three Champions Leagues and eight Spanish leagues.
Barcelona leads the league by 13 points with five games left, guaranteeing him a second championship to cap his career.
Busquets, one of the best defensive midfielders Barcelona has ever had, has 40 assists and 18 goals. He has served as team captain for the past two seasons and was one of the veterans who decided to take a pay cut when the team was experiencing recent financial difficulties.
With 48 appearances in “clasicos” between Barcelona and Real Madrid, Busquets holds the record for most appearances.
“It has been an unforgettable journey,” he said. Since I was a youngster attending games or watching them on television, I’ve always imagined wearing this shirt and playing in this stadium, and reality has surpassed all of my fantasies. If you had told me fifteen years ago when I first came to the best club in the world, the club of my life, I wouldn’t have believed you.
Busquets remained mum regarding his future playing location. On June 4, Barcelona will play its final game in the Spanish league, traveling to Celta Vigo.
