Amidst the dire financial situation of FC Barcelona, speculations have been at an all-time high regarding the future of certain players. With Lionel Messi, reportedly keen on a return to Camp Nou, the club is under pressure to get some high-earners off the wage bill or reduce their salaries, including captain Sergio Busquets.
However, Barcelona boss Xavi was quick to deny that Leo Messi’s potential return will not have any effect on Busquets’ decision to stay or leave during the pre-match press conference ahead of Barcelona’s clash against Getafe CF.
Xavi on Busquets’ renewal:
“The most important thing is that Busquets is calm and will help us until the end of the season. I don’t think his decision is linked to Messi’s potential return. It’s difficult to choose, it was also tough for me. If he continues, he will continue to be important for Barcelona.“
Busquets remains vital to Barcelona’s title charge as part of Xavi’s new four-man midfield system which has taken sides across Spain by storm. With his contract running until the summer of 2023, Xavi has made it clear that the Barcelona captain will have an important role at the club given he stays beyond the end of the season.
If recent reports are to be believed, Lionel Messi’s situation is largely dependent on Barcelona’s financial situation and whether the club and La Liga be able to come to terms on what their wage bill would look like to afford a contract for the club’s greatest ever player, with the World Cup winner trying his best to make a return possible.
The Catalan club is already working to find solutions to facilitate the arrival of Leo Messi. In any case, it is quite evident that departures will be needed for that fairytale to come to fruition, with the club willing to listen to the right offers for all but a handful of fringe players who are not in Xavi’s future plans.
