Sergio Busquets And FC Barcelona Officially Announce Captain’s Departure (VIDEO)

FC Barcelona and Sergio Busquets have officially announced the captain’s departure from the club at the end of the season.

Busquets’ contract expires on June 30. On Tuesday, MARCA reported that the number ‘5’ had already informed the club that he would move on in the summer after almost 15 years in the first team.

All that was missing was an announcement from the club and player to make the development official. It was suspected that this could come immediately, or when Barca have been crowned La Liga champions which might happen away at bitter rivals Espanyol on Sunday.

Rather than wait until the weekend, however, the pivot and the Catalans posted an emotional video to the club’s social media networks at around 11AM local time in Barcelona on Wednesday morning.

“Hello, Culers. The time has come to announce that this will be my last season with Barca,” Busquets began.

“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 and at this stadium and reality has exceeded all of my dreams.

“I wouldn’t have believed you if you’d told me when I arrived as a youth player that I would play 15 seasons at the best club in the world – the club of my life, of which I have been, am and will always be a fan, member, player, captain and surpass 700 matches,” Busquets continued.

Busquets said it had been an “honor, a dream, and source of pride” to “defend and represent this badge for so many years”, “but everything has a beginning and an end, and although it has not been an easy decision, I think the time has come.”

He thanked “all the people who have made all this possible from the first day to the last: club staff, physiotherapists, doctors, kit managers, delegates, press, executives, presidents, coaches, staff, analysts, physical trainers”, but especially his teammates with whom he has shared “thousands of hours together, joking, talking, training, playing matches, laughing, crying, celebrating… everything”.

Busquets also thanked the club’s members and fans from all over the world “who have supported me and given me their love throughout this time” as well as his family for always supporting him in the good times and in the “not-so-good ones” while making his journey so special and “sacrificing so many things” to accompany him and see him happy.

Busquets signed off by telling everyone he would see them in the last few games and that uttered a popular terrace refrain that being a Barca fan “is the best thing there is” with a smile.

He will leave Barca as one of their most decorated players with nine La Liga titles, three Champions League crowns and seven Copa del Reys.