FC Barcelona: Three candidates apparently chosen to succeed Sergio Busquets
Barcelona Busquets
FC Barcelona apparently takes care of the successor to Sergio Busquets. Three candidates emerge.
FC Barcelona is looking into the future of midfielder Sergio Busquets and, according to a report by the Sports three candidates under consideration: Monaco star Aurelien Tchouameni, Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Ruben Neves and Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi.
Busquets is in the autumn of his career at the age of 33 and the Catalans are looking to sign a replacement for the Spaniard early on. Frenkie De Jong is also considered to be sales candidate. “Busquets won’t be around forever,” said Barcelona coach Xavi recently. “We have to take that into account for the future. There is no player with his profile in the team. We have to find one. It’s important that the planning goes there.”
Tchouameni, Neves and Zubimendi spark Barca interest
According to Sport, Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi is the most popular in the Barca coaching team because he most closely embodies the Busquets style of play. However, his contract, which runs until 2025 and has a release clause of just under €60m, poses an obstacle for Barca.
Aurelien Tchouameni from AS Monaco, who was also on Real Madrid’s radar, is also a candidate. But not only Barca shows interest in the Frenchman, for Tchouameni a transfer fee of 60 million euros would probably also be due.
The third candidate is Portuguese Ruben Neves, who is in talks by his agent Jorge Mendes with Barca President Joan Laporta, according to the Sportswas also an issue. The 25-year-old is tied to Wolves until 2024 and is also being discussed as a new signing at other top clubs.
Despite his advanced age, Busquets is still an integral part of FC Barcelona, the Spaniard making 49 appearances for the Catalans this season. His contract expires in 2023.