Busquets has hesitated a lot between continuing one more year in his club of all his life or doing as other legends did in his day.
In the end, it was more important for him to leave Barcelona at the top, being the one to lift the league title after several seasons, with that good taste in his mouth instead of abandoning the ship after leaving everything in place for his succession.
One of the best players in the history of the club is leaving for good after 18 years. He arrived at Barça in 2005 and, after playing two seasons in the Juvenil A, he moved up to Pep Guardiola's Barça B to become a key player in the promotion of the reserve team to Segunda B.
With the commitment that has always characterised him, he gave his all and ended up making his official debut with the first team in 2008 in a league match against Racing and by the end of the season, he had become an established player.
From then on, he began a golden and glorious period in which he filled his trophy cabinet with titles. And, of course, with the mark of a basic footballer who became an essential player for his coaches.
The best defensive midfielder
At Barcelona, once Busquets' intention to leave was known, they have not hesitated to describe him as "the best defensive midfielder in the world" thanks to "his elegant technique and brilliant tactical reading" and, of course, to a great history "of playing and footballing class".
Qualities that have earned him 718 first-team appearances, the third most in Barça's long history. To which he must add his 31 trophies: eight La Liga titles, seven Copa Del Reys, seven Spanish Super Cups, three Champions Leagues, three European Super Cups and three Club World Cups.
It is not bad, far from it, to remember his 18 goals and 40 assists. Or, for example, being the player who has played in the most Clasicos, with 48, and won the most, with 23.
Last season as an Azulgrana
The player from Badía del Vallés is already living his last weeks as a Blaugrana footballer before starting a new stage abroad. But he is not leaving as a residual player but as a basic player in the plans of Xavi, who longed to continue counting on him.
With 2087 minutes played, he is the sixth player with the most minutes played this season, in a total of 27 games in which, apart from developing his role as a playmaker, he has generated four goal assists.
To close his last season and put an end to his career at the club, the Barcelona captain has the opportunity to finish in the best possible way, extending his trophy cabinet and lifting a trophy for the last time: the 2022/23 La Liga title.
