Sergio Busquets is reportedly weighing up the possibility of joining Manchester City if he is transfer listed by Barcelona.
According to a report by Catalan outlet El Nacional, Sergio Busquets has taken a decision on his next destination if he is forced to leave Barcelona. The Barcelona captain will prefer joining Manchester City, with Pep Guardiola keen on a reunion in next summer’s transfer window.
Sergio Busquets has been a mainstay in midfield for Barcelona since making his first-team debut in 2008. In the last 13 years, the Spanish international has gone from strength to strength, establishing himself as one of the best players of his generation while also remaining a pivotal figure for his national side.
To date, the 33-year-old has made 651 appearances for Barcelona, chipping in with 16 goals and 41 assists in the process. However, heading into the new year, Busquets’s future is as uncertain as it has ever been, with Barcelona reportedly preparing for a squad overhaul. Such a situation has alerted Manchester City.
The interest from Manchester City is intriguing yet understandable to an extent. That is because the 2021/22 season could be Fernandinho’s swansong at the Etihad, leaving Pep Guardiola searching for a viable short-term replacement to take on the leadership role in the dressing room.
With Rodri coming leaps and bounds this season, the former Barcelona boss only needs a veteran midfielder to succeed his captain, which would explain the interest in Busquets. However, time and again, Busquets had only rejected the advances of Manchester City, as he has been determined to end his career at Barcelona. That situation has changed now.
As iterated, Barcelona will undergo a squad overhaul over the next few transfer windows, with the most experienced mainstays in Busquets, Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba in line to face the axe. Busquets will seek a move to Manchester City if that is the case, provided the Catalan giants make his departure official.
Such a development has come as a huge boost to Manchester City while dealing a blow to other reported suitors like Newcastle United. What remains to be seen is if Busquets is indeed offloaded by Barcelona and whether he will join Manchester City after that.
