barcelona Coach Xavi Hernandez said it was an “injustice”. Sergio Busquets The midfielder was never among the candidates to win the Ballon d’Or after his announcement Departure from the club this week.
Busquets, 34, will not renew his contract with Barca when it expires at the end of the season, bringing an end to 18 years at the Spotify Camp Nou, during which he has made more than 700 appearances. Only Lionel Messi And Javi has made more.
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Many of those games came as part of a three-man midfield with Xavi and Andrés Iniesta, both of whom appeared on the Ballon d’Or podium during their careers, while Busquets was nominated only once, which was in 2012. I stood at 20th position.
“He is the best pivot, deep midfielder, whatever you want to call it, that I have seen with my own eyes,” Xavi said at a press conference ahead of Sunday’s event. Laliga play against espanyolWhen Barca could have won the league title.
“It always seemed a great injustice to me that he was not among the nominees for the Ballon d’Or. There are many injustices in football and he was one of them.
“He is probably the most intelligent midfielder I played with. He has been 10 out of 10 in every department and is the best pivot in Barca’s history.”
Xavi said he respected and understood Busquets’ decision to leave this summer, although he added that it would be “detrimental” to the team, with the former spain The International is still a regular starter. Busquets is not the only person to leave Barca at the end of the season.
ESPN reported Director of football Matteo Alemani will also depart and is in advanced talks to join. Premier League towards Aston Villa,
“We are losing an important asset,” Xavi said of the Alemani. “He has been a key figure in the restructuring of the club with [sporting director] Jordi [Cruyff], It was great working with him and it’s a big loss.”
Xavi said that “nothing has been decided” regarding Cruyff’s future. Cruyff has been out of touch over the summer and sources have told ESPN it is uncertain whether he will renew Deco is likely to join as Barca Reorganize your recruiting team in the coming months.
On the pitch, Barca are two points away from winning their first LaLiga title since 2019. A win at Espanyol on Sunday would take them over the line – and they could win it before play if real Madrid And Atletico Madrid Drop point – but Xavi says claiming the title over his local rivals is no extra motivator.
“For me, the important thing is winning the league,” he said. “I don’t care if it is at Espanyol, Camp Nou, Real Madrid or Getafe. We value the work done throughout the season to reach this position, not one derby game.
“I’m sure it will be a big plus for the fans, but it’s really important for us to win the league. I can’t wait to win it.”
“It would represent a big step forward. The club is being rebuilt and winning La Liga on top of the Super Cup would be huge for me and the club.”
Barca have a fully fit squad for the game, which is threatening Espanyol, who are second bottom and three points from safety with just five games to go in the season.
