Official: Sergio Busquets will leave Barcelona at the end of the season

After months of speculations, Barcelona captain Sergio Busquets has officially confirmed that he will be leaving the club at the end of the season.

The 34-year-old’s current contract with the club expires on June 30 and attempts were made to convince him to stay for one more season at least.

Manager Xavi Hernandez, for one, was a strong voice in wanting Busquets to continue at Barcelona. And the possibility of a reunion with Lionel Messi in the summer was also said to have crossed the midfielder’s mind.

However, he has decided to move on at the end of the season, bringing an end to an illustrious career at Spotify Camp Nou.

🥺 Llegenda del Barça. #5ergioUnic pic.twitter.com/yWGfCxYsUs

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_cat) May 10, 2023

“The time has come to announce that this will be my last season with Barça,” he says saying in the video posted by the club’s social media channels. “It has not been an easy decision, but the time has come.”

Since making his debut under Pep Guardiola in 2008, Busquets has gone on to win a whopping 31 trophies at Barcelona, including three UEFA Champions League titles. It could rise to 32 with the La Liga title almost in the bag this season.

He has also made 719 appearances for the club during his career, winning more than 500 of those. Only Lionel Messi and Xavi have more appearances against their name for the Blaugrana.

Busquets has had to cop some criticism from fans in recent years, but there is no denying that he is an absolute legend and his departure will leave a gaping hole in the club’s midfield unit.

Replacements are being lined up with the likes of Martin Zubimendi and Sofyan Amrabat being linked.

As for Busquets himself, the 34-year-old could move to Saudi Arabia, where he has three offers, or Inter Miami in the MLS.

Gracias, legend!