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Barcelona coach Xavi is reportedly determined to keep hold of Sergio Busquets for one more season.
The club captain’s contract at Camp Nou is due to expire next June, and he continues to be linked with a move away from the club, with interest said to be arriving from the MLS and Saudi Arabia.
However, according to Sport, Xavi has asked the Barcelona board to extend the midfielder’s contract for another year, which would take him to the end of the 2023-24 campaign.
The report claims that the Barcelona head coach has been delighted with the 34-year-old’s performances this season, while he remains a key figure for the Spanish national side.
Busquets would allegedly have to be prepared to accept a wage reduction in order to remain at Camp Nou, with the Catalan outfit not able to match his current salary due to their financial problems.
There has reportedly not yet been any discussions over a potential new deal, but talks are likely to take place once the World Cup has ended.
Busquets played 64 minutes of Spain’s tournament opener with Costa Rica on Wednesday, which ended in a 7-0 victory for Luis Enrique’s side.
Gavi and Pedri are seen as vital players for Barcelona both now and in the future, but Franck Kessie has been linked with a move away from the club, having struggled to break into the side since his arrival.
Meanwhile, Frenkie de Jong’s future is far from secure, with the Catalan outfit still believed to be open to a big-money sale for the 25-year-old next year.
Xavi called Busquets “very important” for Barcelona when the midfielder faced criticism earlier this season.
“It is always the same, three or four players are called out when you lose, this is Barcelona, it is normal,” the Catalan club’s head coach told reporters in the middle of last month.
“When you lose, we are all exposed. For me, Busquets, I wouldn’t change a thing. He is still very important, he is key. There will be games that he does not play.
“But Busi always raises things, he is the captain and part of the team’s machinery. We have a very healthy dressing room. Things will end up coming off because I can see how things are working from inside.”
The midfielder has made 696 appearances for Barcelona in all competitions, contributing 18 goals and 42 assists in the process, winning eight La Liga titles and three Champions League crowns.
