Sergio Busquets has officially joined the Major League Soccer club, Inter Miami from FC Barcelona reuniting him with former teammate Lionel Messi.
Inter Miami confirmed the acquisition of the Spanish International via their official Twitter handle on Friday afternoon, 23rd of June.
The 34-year-old declared in May he would be departing the current La Liga champions after 18 years at the club.
Therefore, the Barcelona legend will link up with former teammate Lionel Messi who confirmed earlier this month that he was going to Inter Miami from Paris Saint Germain.
Sergio Busquets and the 34-year-old spent 13 seasons together at the Catalan club from 2008 to 2021 before Messi joined PSG.
The two were part of a successful team that won eight La Liga titles, six Copa del Reys, and three UEFA Champions League at Barcelona.
It is widely reported that the former Spain midfielder received a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia just like Messi, but he opted to move to the Major League Soccer side owned by former Manchester United forward David Beckham.
Inter Miami, which have already signed Busquets’ ex-Barcelona teammate Messi to their ranks, put even more strength to their ranks, acquiring the 34-year-old on a free transfer.
According to transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, the Spaniard’s contract at Barcelona is due to expire next week, leaving him as a free agent, and he reportedly refused offers from clubs in Saudi Arabia in favor of signing up with Inter Miami.
However, the 34-year-old midfielder will put pen to paper on a two and a half years deal with Inter Miami.
In 2008, Busquets made his first-team debut for Barca under manager Pep Guardiola in a league match against Racing Santander.
He originally signed with the club as a young player back in 2005 and worked his way up through the club’s youth and reserve teams.
The former Spain international was Messi’s teammate at the Nou Camp from the time the Argentine broke into the Blaugrana first team in 2008 until his tearful departure for Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.
The two helped fill the trophy case at Barcelona and reportedly made a contract to play together for at least one more season before calling it quits. That promise will soon be kept in sunny South Beach.
Busquets has played his whole professional career at Barcelona. He made his debut in 2008 and has since made 722 appearances for the club.
After leading Spain to victories in the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championship, he announced his retirement from international football in December 2022.
It had been speculated that Busquets, a World Cup winner, will join Messi and Josef Martinez as one of three ‘franchise players’ at the MLS team.
Since David Beckham signed with LA Galaxy in the summer of 2007, the club’s salary cap has been removed, allowing Miami to spend as much as they like on their chosen players.
Barcelona wanted to retain Busquets, but it was a tall order considering the club’s financial situation.
The club’s financial difficulties prevented them from making a competitive bid as of May, they needed to cut their payroll by €200 million.
Speaking during his emotional goodbye message, Busquets said: “It has been an unforgettable journey. Since I was a child coming to the matches, or watching them on TV, I always dreamed of playing with this shirt at this stadium”.
He added: “The reality has exceeded all my dreams. I wouldn’t have believed you if you told me that I would play 15 seconds for the best club in the world, the club of my life, of which I have been, am, and always will be a fan, member, player, captain, and surpass 700 matches”.
Busquets and Messi will have their work cut out for them to turn Inter Miami’s season around and make the playoffs.
The struggling team is currently winless in their last six Major League Soccer matches and sits at the bottom in the Eastern Conference.
Sergio Busquets Stats for FC Barcelona
Appearances: 722
Goals: 18
Assists: 45
Honours
Eight La Liga: 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2012-13, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2017-18, 2018-19
Seven Copa del Reys: 2008-09, 2011-12, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2020-21
Three Champions Leagues: 2008-09, 2010-11, 2014-15
Three European Super Cups: 2009, 2011, and 2015
Three Club World Cups: 2009, 2011, 2015
Seven Spanish Super Cups: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2022-23
On the other hand, Inter Miami is rumored to be interested in signing not only Busquets and Messi but also another former Barca star, Jordi Alba.
After winning the UEFA Nations League with Spain, Alba is set to decide his future in the coming weeks after agreeing to terminate his contract with Barca last month.
According to ESPN, the defender is also weighing offers from Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, and Saudi Arabian clubs.
Jorge Mas, co-owner of Inter Miami, posted a snap of three pink Miami shirts with the caption, “Coming soon,” sparking rumors that Alba was poised to reunite with Busquets and Messi.
