Busquets to leave Barca at end of the season

Barcelona legend Sergio Busquets has announced he will leave the club at the end of the season after 18 years at the Camp Nou.

The Spanish defensive midfielder joined the Catalan side as a youngster in 2005 and has gone on to make 719 appearances for the first team.

In a statement on the Blaugrana's website, the 34-year-old said: "It has been an honour and a source of pride to have been able to wear this badge but everything must come to an end.

"It has [not] been an easy decision but the time has come." 

Busquets' final act for the club is set to be lifting his ninth LaLiga title, with Barca currently 13 points clear with five games to play.

A true legend of the LaLiga giants, Busquets was also at the heart of three Champions League triumphs.

He formed an iconic midfield partnership with current boss Xavi and Andres Iniesta, with the trio particularly thriving during Pep Guardiola's reign in Catalonia.

The Spain international was handed the captaincy when Lionel Messi left in 2021 and has made 39 appearances in all competitions this term.

Initial reports suggest a move to Saudi Arabia or MLS could be in the offing for the 2010 World Cup winner.