Inter Miami announces the signing of Barcelona star Sergio Busquets as a free agent to reunite the midfielder with former teammate Lionel Messi
Inter Miami announced the signing of Barcelona legend Sergio Busquets on Twitter Friday afternoon.
The MLS club, which has already added Busquets’ former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi to its ranks, added even more star power to its ranks, signing the 34-year-old as a free agent.
The midfielder’s contract at Barcelona is set to expire next week, leaving him a free agent, and he rejected offers form clubs in Saudi Arabia in favor of joining David Beckham’s side for MLS experience, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Inter Miami teased the signing of the midfield maestro in a clip on social media, which showed praise for the Spaniard from the likes of Pep Guardiola, Xavi Hernandez and Luka Modric on a background of a music score in the club’s signature Black and pink.
It finally confirmed the signing by dramatically panning out to show Busquets’s nickname, ‘Busi’ in a spray-painted graffiti style.
Inter Miami announced the signing of Barcelona legend Sergio Busquets
Busquets has spent his entire career to date at Barcelona and has made 722 appearances for the club since making his debut in 2008.
He has won a wide array of trophies, including three Champions Leagues, nine LaLiga titles and seven Copa del Reys.
Messi, who is set to leave Paris Saint-Germain for Inter Miami, also received an offer from Al-Hilal.
Former World Cup winner Busquets would join Lionel Messi and Josef Martinez in becoming one of three ‘franchise players’ at the MLS club. This allows Miami to spend limitlessly beyond their salary cap on the designated players – a rule that began when Beckham joined LA Galaxy.
Barcelona were eager to keep Busquets but that proved to be a difficult aim given their financial difficulties.
The club were unable to present a credible offer due to their financial turmoil, which as of May saw them needing to shave €200million off their wage bill.
In the video announcing his departure, 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.
‘The reality has exceeded all my dreams. I wouldn’t have believed you if you told me when I arrived as a youth player that I would play 15 seasons 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.
More to follow.
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