Sergio Busquets set to leave Barcelona

Sergio Busquets in action for Barcelona during the Spanish La Liga match between against Girona FC at the Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, on April 10th, 2023 | Photo Credit: IMAGO [NurPhoto]

FOOTBALL Sergio Busquets set to leave Barcelona

Shafic Kiyaga 19:11 - 09.05.2023

The 34-year-old midfielder has informed Barcelona of his decision to leave, when his contract expires on June 30.

FC Barcelona Captain Sergio Busquets announces he won't sign a new contract with the club, according to reports.

The 34-year-old midfielder has informed Barcelona of his decision to leave, as his contract expires on June 30.

Busquets reportedly decided to decline the club's contract proposal, which Xavi Hernandez, the first-team coach, had endorsed, but the club could not meet.

Busquets is expected to make a formal announcement soon, with MLS touted as his potential next step.

Former team-mate Lionel Messi, who is out of contract at PSG, could also be heading to America with Inter Miami interested in him.

Busquets' decision to leave Barcelona could mark the end of an era at Camp Nou. He has won everything in the game, including three Champions League titles, plus the Euros and the World Cup with Spain.

Busquets is regarded as one of the game's greatest ever defensive midfielders, and he is said to be wary of leaving too far past his prime when his reputation at Camp Nou might be smudged by a late-career decline.

While some Barcelona fans argue that there is no like-for-like replacement for Busquets, others feel that his best days are behind him, and the club could do with his salary off the books.

He currently earns more than €20 million ($20 million) a season at Camp Nou, according to reports.

Busquets' departure from Barcelona will draw interest from several teams, but it's unclear where he'll head next.

Inter Miami, a club in MLS, is among the teams that have expressed an interest in him. Busquets has long been expected to finish his career in MLS, and this summer, he could join the likes of David Beckham, Thierry Henry, and Wayne Rooney, who have all played in America.

As Barcelona's almost-completed title run in La Liga gives Busquets the chance to go out on a high, the club will want to honour him at Camp Nou before he departs.

It's unclear when this will happen, but it could be as early as Sunday at Barca's cross-city rivals Espanyol.

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