Sergio Busquets: Barcelona Legend To Retire After Inter Miami Season

t’s the end of an era. Sergio Busquets, one of football’s greatest midfield generals, has announced he will hang up his boots when Inter Miami’s MLS season concludes later this year.

From La Masia To Global Icon

For nearly two decades, Busquets defined what it meant to be a holding midfielder. Rising through Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy, he broke into Pep Guardiola’s team in 2008 and never looked back. His calm presence, ability to read the game, and knack for turning defence into attack made him the heartbeat of Barça’s tiki-taka revolution.

By the time he left Catalonia in 2023, Busquets had played 722 games for the club the third-most in history collecting 32 trophies that included nine La Liga titles and three UEFA Champions League crowns. For many fans, his name is etched into the same pantheon as Lionel Messi, Xavi, and Andrés Iniesta.

A Pillar Of Spain’s Golden Era

Busquets wasn’t just a Barcelona man. He anchored Spain’s midfield during their most glorious chapter, winning the 2010 FIFA World Cup and back-to-back European Championships in 2008 and 2012. With 143 caps, he became one of the country’s most trusted and decorated servants before retiring from international football in 2022.

New Beginnings In Miami

When he reunited with Messi and Jordi Alba at Inter Miami in 2023, many wondered if the old magic would still be there. It was. Together, the trio turned Miami from an MLS curiosity into serious contenders. Busquets helped steer them to a historic Leagues Cup win in 2023 and a record-breaking Supporters’ Shield run in 2024.

Fans React To A Farewell

The retirement announcement, made via social media, has already sparked an outpouring of tributes. Barcelona fans flooded timelines with highlights of his best moments, calling him “the silent engine” of the greatest club side ever. Inter Miami supporters, meanwhile, praised his professionalism, noting how he instantly raised the team’s standards.

A Career Signed Off With Gratitude

In his farewell message, Busquets described his journey as “an incredible story” and said he was leaving the game “very happy, proud, fulfilled and above all grateful.”

For fans across Barcelona, Spain, and now Miami, his retirement closes one of football’s most remarkable chapters. And while he may no longer be on the pitch, his influence will live on every time a young midfielder slides seamlessly into space, intercepts danger, and makes the impossible look simple.

{Source:SABC Sport}

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