Barcelona’s Sergio Busquets is one of the most underrated yet important figures in football. He’s primed for another quietly sensational campaign.
The age-old adage former Spain manager Vicente del Bosque once used to describe Sergio Busquets still rings true to this day.
"“You watch the game, you don’t see Busquets. You watch Busquets, you see the whole game.”"
Busquets is the classic example of a player who flies under the radar. He doesn’t get the glory of Lionel Messi. However, you can still argue that the Spaniard is one of the most important players at the club, and has been for some time.
The La Masia graduate was Pep Guardiola’s golden boy when he first rose through the ranks. He didn’t quite possess the physical qualities to be a true defending midfielder, nor was he attack-minded enough to play in a box-to-box or attacking role. Yet, somehow, Busquets revolutionized the holding midfielder position.
He certainly wasn’t the first, but perhaps the best of the bunch that got everyone familiar with the deep-lying pass-master.
Sergio Busquets: Has made more accurate passes (8454) than any other La Liga player since the 2013/14 season pic.twitter.com/G1cYpgWrFM
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) August 9, 2017
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It’s not to say he doesn’t perform his defensive duties. In fact, he shields the back four quite well. However, it’s his ability to open up the pitch with his passing, both short and incisive and long and accurate, for players like Messi to take over.
Though last season was a difficult one for Barcelona in terms of trophies, Busquets was majestic in that role once again.
He completed 90 percent of his passes, won 85 percent of his take-ons and supplied three assists, per Squawka. All the while, the 29-year-old made 50 interceptions and made zero defensive errors in La Liga in 2016-17.
Busquets is unrivaled in his role. Barcelona have young players in the pipeline and some more advanced midfielders capable of dropping into his role should he need a rest. He hardly does.
The No. 5 will be the starter in the opening match, and barring unforeseen events, he’ll be unlocking defenses with his passes on the final day too. Busquets’ value to Barcelona is really second only to Messi’s, and he’s still in his prime.
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You might not notice all that he does, as alluded to in the del Bosque quote earlier. However, Sergio Busquets will continue to be an integral cog in the Barcelona machine, and will be key if the Blaugrana return to prominence in the form of trophies.