The Spanish National Team were recently knocked out in the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar by Morocco. After a rather tense 90 minutes of football, and a goalless 30 minutes of extra time, the team from Africa emerged victors in the penalty shootout as Spain were handed an early departure from Qatar.
Despite this early exit, it allows Sergio Busquets some time off to reflect on his future and make the much-awaited decision regarding where he ends up playing football next season.
According to a report by Sport, Busquets also plans on holding a meeting with Barcelona regarding his decision and timing to go through with it. Whereas both Xavi and Luis Enrique, his respective coaches at both club and national level, believe he is still a more than reliable outlet as the starting pivot in both teams.
However, doubts and concerns regarding his massive salary remain a massive hurdle amongst the ranks of the club’s financial and operating management.
While those that remain in high positions within the club’s hierarchy maintain that Busquets is still a good enough player and hold the utmost respect for his contributions to the club, they remain firm over their resolve that they cannot continue to keep the Spaniard on the same wages that he earns as of right now, especially in the scenario that he is willing to stay with the Catalans for another season.
As it stands, Barcelona would prefer to know Busquet’s decision as early as possible given that appropriate replacements or tactical changes may need to be put into action. According to several reports, the player that Xavi sees as most proficient when it comes to acting as a replacement for the veteran pivot is Real Sociedad’s Martín Zubimendi, but the latter comes with a hefty 60 million price tag that the Blaugrana are not quite willing to pay as of right now.
Currently, Busquets has lucrative offers from the MLS Clubs on the table, which could be key in helping him decide his next footballing destination. However, he remains a key part of Xavi’s system thus far and sees his current contract expire on June 30th, 2023. FC Barcelona will be hoping to find a conclusion regarding his future as early as possible given other factors that are to be considered.
