Inter Miami Announce FC Barcelona Captain Sergio Busquets Signing

Inter Miami have announced the signing of FC Barcelona captain Sergio Busquets, who will join his close friend Lionel Messi at the MLS franchise.

Last month, Busquets revealed he would leave Barca when his contract expires on June 30 after a highly-successful 15 years in the first team.

Both his and Messi’s futures were uncertain at the time, with reports from El Chiringuito linking the duo, plus Jordi Alba, to Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia.

Busquets swore in an interview with Mundo Deportivo that the former teammates weren’t heading to the Middle East.

“No, no, surely not. I give you my word,” Busquets stated, additionally denying that the three men had discussed their next destinations – with Alba also set to depart Camp Nou in a week’s time – when their families met in Barcelona for dinner earlier in May.

“No, because none of the three of us had or have anything closed,” Busquets explained.

“Of course we said we would like to get back together and have the families together. Beyond that comment, without further ado, each one will decide for himself,” he insisted.

Messi proved that Busquets was at least telling the truth about Al-Hilal when turning down the big money from the Saudi Pro League outfit and instead joining Inter Miami.

Now, a fortnight on since Messi’ bombshell, the David Beckham co-owned franchise has been able to announce Busquets’ capture with a Twitter post on Friday.

Their announcement clip begins with a quote commonly misattributed to Busquets’ former Spain manager Vicente Del Bosque, who didn’t say: “You watch the game, you don’t see him, you watch him, you see the whole game.”

But there are other compliments from the likes of Real Madrid rival Luka Modric, his former locker room colleague and now ex-manager Xavi Hernandez, then a pair of Argentine legends in Juan Roman Riquelme and Messi.

Ultimately the camera cleverly shows the word “si”, before pulling back to reveal the number 5’s nickname “Busi” and officially announce what is arguably Inter Miami’s second biggest ever signing after seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Busquets, 34, will pen a two-and-a-half year deal with Miami.