Barcelona: Sergio Busquets set to sign new contract after international break
The 30-year-old will be rewarded with a new contract due to his integral role in the team.
Sergio Busquets currently has a contract with the club that runs until 2021, but Barcelona want to ensure that he is happy and out of reach of other clubs. Therefore, according to Mundo Deportivo, his wages will be increased and he will have a loyalty bonus as well as his release clause being increased from 200 to 500 million euros, with the agreement due to be officially completed when he returns from his national team duties.
The two years that were optional on his current contract will be made permanent, so it will run to 2023 when he will be 35-years-old, which is likely to be around the time he considers moving on or retiring. His technical and tactical ability means he can play to an advanced age, but there is a reliance on the other midfielders to provide the energy and dynamism as he starts to deteriorate physically.
PSG were linked with him this summer due to their dire need for a defensive midfielder who can dictate play. Thomas Tuchel’s style requires a disciplined, intelligent defensive midfielder to anchor the dynamic attackers ahead of him while also being tactically fluid in order to adapt to formation changes; Busquets fits the bill perfectly. The French champions were also rumoured to be after Ivan Rakitic, but they failed in the pursuit of both players because they opted to stay at Barcelona.
Pep Guardiola brought Busquets through to the first-team in the 2008/09 season, and he hasn’t looked back since. His ability to quickly work out build-up solutions based on how the opposition is set-up has allowed Barcelona’s style to flourish because he ensures the more creative players receive consistent service. He started alongside two of the best midfielders of all-time in Xavi and Andres Iniesta, but he has proven through his consistency that he is a top midfielder in his own right.
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The Barcelona board are approaching this situation in the right way because they are ensuring that Busquets is content for the next few seasons while planning for a potential future without him. Frenkie de Jong is a major target for the club and he is one of the few players who has the talent and ability to replicate his role in the team, although there will be competition for his signature. Oriol Busquets is a promising talent currently in the B team who could potentially replace him as well.
Next. Girona vs. Barcelona likely to be played in the United States. dark
Sergi Samper is seen by some as the heir to Busquets, but his stagnated development due to bad loan spells and injuries over recent seasons means his chance has likely passed. However, Barcelona do have a number of options, which is promising for the future.