The merging paths of Pique and Busquets

source: fifa.com
date: 19 June 2009
editing: fcbtransfers.blogspot.com





After entering Barcelona's youth academy in 1997, 22-year-old Gerard Pique became a treble winner with the club and a Spain international. The 20-year-old Sergio Busquets has followed in his footsteps.

Similar paths to the same destination you might think, but you would be wrong. Despite being graduates of Can Barça and now club and international team-mates, the pair took vastly different routes to get where they are today.

Pique waved goodbye to Barcelona's youth academy back in 2004, when Manchester United offered the promising teenager the chance to play in England. Peppered with big-name internationals, Alex Ferguson's squad proved exceedingly difficult to break into for the young Spaniard. Despite increased opportunities and a UEFA Champions League medal that same season, the 22-year-old was missing his native Barcelona and jumped at the chance to return to his old club that summer.

And though the Catalans paid handsomely to be reunited with their former pupil, the investment proved worth every penny. "I'm delighted to be back home with my family and friends as that was something I was missing. On top of that, things could not have gone better for the team this season. We picked up three titles and hope to win several next year again," Pique told FIFA.com.

While all this was happening, a young Sergio Busquets was going from strength to strength in the club's youth teams. The son of Carles Busquets, a professional goalkeeper with the Catalan giants during the 1990s, moved steadily through the junior ranks, finally making the squad of Barcelona B, then under the tutelage of Josep Guardiola. The coach immediately recognised the defensive midfielder's talent and wasted no time drafting him into the Blaugrana first-team squad after he was handed the senior coaching reins last year.

So how do they cope with so much success? "By just being myself and having the support of my family, friends and colleagues, all of whom help keep me grounded," said Busquets, who had only good things to say about his team-mate and friend.

"Pique is a top player. He's still very young even though he appears to having been playing in that very demanding central-defensive role for a long time. He has tons of confidence and in my opinion has been the revelation of the year. As an individual, he's a bit of a joker and can be annoying at times, but he's great fun and a very good person.

"Hmmm, so I'm a bit of a pain, am I? Well, that's his opinion and I respect it... but I'll remember that comment and will have to see about that," said the defender with a mischievous grin, perhaps already plotting how best to repay his friend the 'complement'.

Becoming serious again, Pique had some genuinely kind words for Busquets. "I'm very happy for him," he said. "We've become great friends and being here together is really nice. He deserves it all. It's incredible though, I took one route, he took another, but we both ended up winning the treble with Barça and in the national team."

Now back on the same path, long and successful journeys appear to beckon for the talented duo.

read the full and original article here


Read more:
The dizzying journey of Sergio Busquets
Pique: "Classical music makes me fall asleep"
Busquets: "I didn't expect this"

Busquets: "I didn't expect this"

Barcelona player Sergio Busquets gave an interview to the club's official media.





A year ago, you were playing in the third division against Manlleu and Banyoles with Barça B. Now you are preparing to face sides like Bayern Munich. How would you define this change?
Yes, my life has changed, but all I can do is get used to it. You have to work hard and train every day and try to get better and win a regular place in the first team, which is what everybody dreams of doing one day. I didn’t expect this, but you just have to get used to it, work hard and try to get better and better.

Is it very different to what you imagined it would be like?
You can imagine a bit what it is like because you’ve seen it on TV. But when you are here you soon get used to the way that it is no longer you watching TV, but others watching you on TV. It’s different, but it’s nice.

What do you think about Bayern as the opposition in the Champions League quarter finals?
They are a very difficult team, they were the best team in the first round. We expect a very hard game against a very strong team with players up front that can score lots of goals.

As well as their form, Bayern is a classic of European football. What memories do have of that club?
Since I was a kid, I remember Oliver Kahn and many other famous players that I’m familiar with after playing with the console. They have always had famous players. Neither can I forget 1999 when they played Manchester in that final with the incredible finish.

That’s the Champions League, but the team is also top of the league and into the Copa del Rey final. Which competition would you be most excited about winning?
It’s my first year in the first team and I’m excited about winning any title as I have never won any of them. I’d like all three, but I appreciate that that’s difficult. There is still some time to go before we can ask whether we’ll win one, two or three.

How do you deal with putting Barça aside and focusing instead on two games for Spain against Turkey?
You get used to it. Sometimes it’s nice to have a break from the team. You forget a bit about those three competitions and that takes some of the pressure off. That’s good but sometimes it’s also hard to go back to your club and play against teams that don’t have internationals, because they are better prepared, and have had two weeks rest. We’ll only have three days before the game with Valladolid, and that’s a bit difficult.

You played for Guardiola last season in Barça B. Now you’re together in the first team. Has he changed much, Does he work the same way as he used to with the reserves?
The boss is just the same. Last year he worked the same way as he does now. Of course the situation is very different, because here it’s more intense, there’s more pressure, but he’s the same person and the way he runs training sessions and games is the same, it’s the same Guardiola as last year in the third division.

Read the complete interview here


Read more:
The dizzying journey of Sergio Busquets
Busquets delighted with renewal
Busquets sr: "Sergio always had that easy touch"

The dizzying journey of Sergio Busquets

source:
El Periódico





SERGIO BUSQUETS COMPLETES A DIZZYING JOURNEY THAT BROUGHT HIM IN 8 MONTHS FROM THE FOURTH DIVISOIN TO THE NATIONAL TEAM

The player, only 20 years old, fuses the style of Barça with street football

Javier Fernandez has been left alone coaching the Badia Juvenil team this season. The team, that's a fact, is doing great. They are the leaders of their league. But Sergio, his nephew, can not help as he had promised at the start of the season. "I will be your assistant," said Sergio excited. The young boy, 20 years old, responsible, a fanatical football fan and a die-hard culé - he loved Figo until he betrayed him to dress in white - is the who idolized Xavi since he was a child and who is now playing at his side. Sergio Busquets, Javier's nephew, can not go to his own town every weekend because eight months ago he embarked on a dizzying journey from Badia to the Spanish national team.

And, of course, he has no time for anything. A year and a half ago, Sergio didn’t play in the Tercera because he began the season injured. He did not want to put his family name on the shirt and so he decided to only use the letter B, from Busquets, for his father, and from Burgos, for his mother. A year ago, Guardiola opened the door of Barcelona B and six months ago, that of Barça. Every day is busier than the last. "If you stop and think calmly, you cannot understand what has happened. Since he was a child one could see that he was going to be a professional football player", said Javier Fernandez on a cold winter’s night after coaching his team.

"Intuitive and simple"
Alongside Javier, leaving an anonymous lonely field in Badia, is Aitor Busquets. He is the brother of Sergio, the other son of Busi, the “goalkeeper without hands", as he was defined by the French newspaper L'Equipe. None of them have followed the path of their father. Aitor is a left-winger and plays at Badia. Sergio is a skilled midfielder. And he amazes everyone. Guardiola was the first. "He is intuitive, he knows what he needs to do, his game is simple, he doesn't lose the ball... But he has room for improvement," says the coach.

In September, the day that he debuted with a tie at the Camp Nou against Racing (1-1), Cruyff’s eyes were illuminated. Hours later, his article in the newspaper announced something big. "Technically superior to Toure and Keita. Positionally, he seems like a veteran. With or without the ball. With the ball he made what is difficult look easy: he disposes of the ball with one or two touches. Without the ball, he gives us another lesson: that of being in the right place to intercept and running just to recover the ball. And all that while being young and inexperienced. The same sins of his coach", wrote Johan. Back then, nobody believed in Sergio or in the young and inexperienced Guardiola.

Rejected in a test
Sergio, as a child, and despite being the son of, did not pass a test at Barça. And so he left for other fields (Badia, Barberà, Lleida and Jabac Terrassa). There, Rodri, ex-blaugrana player and ex-blaugrana coach, a wise men with a hoarse voice, tortured the ears of Barcelona youth coach Quique Costas every week. "Come, you have to see the son of Busi! You have to see him!" Finally, after much insistence, he went to see him and brought him back to play with the Juvenil team. From being a child that no one wanted, now they were going out to look for him. He rose from the earth to heaven.

The rest is known: he graduated to the first team, his contract has been renewed until 2013, with a buy-out clause of €80 million, he plays defensive pivot, a position that he revolutionized. In the past, small, imaginative and creative players came out of La Masia (Xavi, Iniesta, Cesc ...). Now it is him. Tall (1.89 m = 6’2), powerful, capable of fusing the Barça style (thinking before you touch the ball) with the football of the neighborhood, of the street: he has provoked 18 yellow cards and two expulsions from his rivals.

Translated by: Andrew


Read more:
First international call-up for Piqué and Busquets
OFFICIAL: Busquets renews until 2013

First international call-up for Piqué and Busquets

Barcelona central defender Gerard Piqué (22) and Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets (20) have today for the first time been called-up for the Spanish national team.

The two Catalan players were included, along with Barcelona players Puyol, Xavi and Iniesta, in the squad that will face England next Wednesday. Busquets only made his international debut with the Spanish U-21 team a little four months ago (read more here).

Busquets delighted with renewal

When leaving the club's offices after signing his contract renewal until 2013 (read more here), Barcelona midfielder and Spanish youth international Sergio Busquets (20) has said to journalists that he's delighted with the extension of his contract:

"I'm very happy. This is what I've always dreamt of since I was a child. Suddenly the right circumstances were there.

Everything has been going really fast over the past months. Last season, I was playing with Barcelona B in the fourth division, this year I did the pre-season with the first team, the coach gave me playing minutes and I took the chance.

I will keep on working like I have done before. You'll keep on seeing the same Sergio Busquets as you've been seeing until this day. I still need to continue getting better and to learn from all of my teammates and coaches."

Read the complete Busquets renewal story from the first negotiations until the signature

OFFICIAL: Busquets renews until 2013

Barcelona has today officially announced that midfielder and Spanish youth international Sergio Busquets (20) has signed this noon a contract renewal that will link him to the club until 2013 and includes a buyout clause of 80 million euro°.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta, the player's representatives, Barcelona sports vice-president Rafael Yuste, Barcelona economic vice-president Joan Boix, Barcelona chief executive Joan Oliver, Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain and Barcelona general director of football Raül Sanllehí assisted the signature of the player.

Sergio Busquets, whose current contract expired at the end of this season, joined Barcelona in 2005 and was promoted to the first team in September of this year.

Read the complete Busquets renewal story from the first negotiations until the signature


Read more:
OFFICIAL: Bojan renews until 2013
OFFICIAL: Xavi renews until 2014
OFFICIAL: Pinto renews until 2010

Negotiations with Puyol, Valdés and Eto'o to start

Asked about the ongoing renewal negotiations, Barcelona sports vice-president Rafael Yuste has said in an interview with Catalan radio station Catalunya Ràdio that Barcelona now plans to start talking with Barcelona players Carles Puyol (30), Víctor Valdés (26) and Samuel Eto'o (27), whose contracts expire in the summer of 2010:

"First, we want to close the renewals of Xavi and Busquets. I have spoken with Txiki and he has told me that his brother is recovering well, so the two will sign when he has returned to Barcelona.

After that, we're gonna deal step by step with the renewals of Puyol, Valdés and Eto'o. I sure can't see youth players like Puyol or Valdés wearing another shirt than Barça's. I like and defend our youth academy, because the home-grown players are the ones who make the other players integrate into the team."

Read more:
Renewal talks coming up
Puyol could be next on renewal list
Barcelona wants to renew Eto'o until 2012

Final deal on Busquets renewal

Spanish news agency EFE claims that a final agreement on the contract renewal midfielder and Spanish youth international Sergio Busquets (20) has been reached during a meeting on Thursday between Barcelona general director of football Raül Sanllehí and Josep Maria Orobitg, the agent of the player (read more here).

Busquets, whose current B-team contract expires at the end of this season, will renew his contract until 2013.

With the deal being totally agreed upon, the only thing left is the signature, which will take place once Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain will have returned from Japan where he is standing by his sick brother.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta and Sanllehí are expected to travel at the end of next week to Japan where FIFA is holding a meeting on 19 and 20 December. This will enable them to personally explain Begiristain the details of the contract that has been negotiated with Busquets.

Busquets' agent Josep Maria Orobitg has confirmed the renewal deal to Catalan radio station Ona FM when leaving Thursday's meeting. Orobitg said that Busquets will sign a five-year contract with an emphasis on the incentives and the progress the player will make. The new contract would include a buyout clause of 80 million euro°. The agreement would be made public next week.

Read more:
Principal agreement on Busquets renewal
Juventus and Arsenal monitor Busquets talks
Deal on Busquets renewal imminent

Deco: "Every 20 years you have a player like Leo"

Former Barcelona player Deco gave an interview to Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo.





You're following Barça?
Every time I can. I'm having a good time watching how the team of Guardiola is playing. At this moment, there's no team in Spain or even in Europe that is playing on the same level.

What do you like most?
The ambition that everyone is showing, the will to win trophies again, that's what I like.

They has surprised you?
No, because I know the quality there is in the squad, but I have to admit that Guardiola's work is very important. It impressed me how he turned Barça around with just some little changes. With almost nothing he got a team together that reminds me of the first seasons of Rijkaard and the best moments of Ronaldinho.

You really think Pep Guardiola's work is that important?
Yes. My former teammates, with whom I still have contact, are enthusiastic about Pep, about how he works, how he talks to them, how on top he is of everything. He reminds me of Mourinho at Porto. They're focusing on everything because they know how important little details can be, but at the same time they have very clear ideas about the global picture, they know which football they want their team to play and how to make it happen. Besides that, I notice that Guardiola knows very well how to deal with everything related to the entourage, the press, the fans... That's extremely important at Barça.

Some Barça player has surprised you?
Without any doubt: Sergio Busquets. I didn't know him but I'm delighted with how he plays, how he lives the games, how he is part of the group and even about how he tackles. That's another plus of Pep Guardiola because without him, with another coach who wouldn't know the B-team like he does, you cannot see anyone putting his trust in the young guys like he is been doing. It's a great joy for the youth players that Guardiola is there.

You always defended Eto'o.
Samuel is very important for Barça. You know that I have always said that the success of Barça putting pressure starts with Eto'o. If Samuel is on top of his physical abilities, like he is now, if he's feeling happy and motivated, it's hard to find a better striker anywhere in the world. Above that, and that's not a secret, he's extra motivated for the games against Madrid.

No need to ask you about Messi...
You have players like Leo once every twenty years. I don't want to involve myself but you know me well and you know that I'm talking already for many years about the incredible potential of Messi. He's destined to make history, to be one of the great players of world football. I also like it that he seems to have more luck with the injuries, that Pep replaces him if the games are decided. Barça is fortunate to count on a star player like Leo who has filled the gap left by the best Ronnie, who no matter what some may say also put his stamp on an era of Barça. Messi is on his way to be a player like Pelé, Maradona, Ronaldinho... I'm not exagerating, I'm perfectly aware of what Leo is capable of. Besides, he's a great guy, a good friend.

You're talking with Ronaldinho?
Every time we can, I called him a few days ago. He's happy in Milan and that's very important for his life and his game. I'm also very happy to see how Thiago Motta is recovering in Italy. You saw his great performance during the Sampdoria-Genoa game?

How about your former teammates?
I'm talking with them by phone, we're also sending each other text messages and when I'm in Barcelona I always meet with someone. I like to keep close ties with the city where I still have a house and where a part of my family still lives.

This was the first part of this interview. You can read the second part tomorrow with Deco talking about the game against Madrid.


Read more interviews:
Deco: "The media pressure at Barca is huge"
Laporta: "To govern is to resist"
Marquez: "Guardiola is a born winner"

Deal on Busquets renewal imminent

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that a final deal on the renewal of Barcelona midfielder and Spanish youth international Sergio Busquets (20), whose current contract expires at the end of this season, is imminent.

Josep Maria Orobitg, the agent of the player, would be in the Camp Nou offices to initial the deal, that will link the Catalan midfielder to Barcelona until the summer of the year 2013.

The renewal agreement could be officially announced in the coming hours.

Read more:
Principal agreement on Busquets renewal
Juventus and Arsenal monitor Busquets talks
Still no final agreement on Busquets renewal

Still no final agreement on Busquets renewal

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that there's still no final agreement on the renewal of Barcelona midfielder and Spanish youth international Sergio Busquets (20), although the differences would now only be minimal (read more here).

The five-year duration of the contract and the fixed salary would be agreed upon, but the final definition of the incentives would have slowed down the renewal talks with Busquets, whose current contract expires at the end of this season.

Since Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain is still in Japan, it's Barcelona general football director Raül Sanllehí who has been negotiating by phone with the player's agent Josep Maria Orobitg this week. During a last telephone contact on Friday, both would have agreed to meet again next week. This meeting could be the last.

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Busquets will probably sign his renewal before the end of the year, although the fixed fee offered by Barcelona would be extremely low compared to other players in the squad. Real Madrid would be closely monitoring the renewal talks.

Read more:
Busquets renewal could be closed this week
Juventus and Arsenal monitor Busquets talks
Principal agreement on Busquets renewal

Busquets renewal could be closed this week

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that the contract renewal of Barcelona midfielder and Spanish youth international Sergio Busquets (20), whose current contract expires next summer, will be closed in the coming days (read more here).

Barcelona president Joan Laporta is quoted as saying an agreement could be agreed upon soon: "I can confirm that we're very close to a deal regarding the contract renewal of Sergio Busquets. This week Txiki Begiristain will return from Japan and he will finalize the last details."

Because Begiristain had to travel to Japan at the end of last week, a new meeting with Josep Maria Orobitg, the agent of Busquets, who would sign a new five-year deal, couldn't be scheduled. Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that, now the renewal with Xavi seems to be finalized, the renewal of Busquets is the next priority. Barcelona in any case want to have a deal before Christmas.

Begiristain said last week to journalists that Busquets is aware that what Barcelona can offer him has its limits: "He has his demands and the club also. When you're talking about contract years and salaries, it's never easy. We don't want to break the financial balance in the squad and we have to be very careful looking at how the world of football is now."

Read more:
Juventus and Arsenal monitor Busquets talks
Busquets renewal deal could be close
Busquets could sign renewal next week

Busquets could sign renewal next week

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that an agreement on the contract renewal of Barcelona midfielder and Spanish youth international Sergio Busquets (20), whose current contract expires next summer, will be reached next week.

With only a few details left to be agreed upon (read more here), it would be very likely that Busquets will sign the renewal in the coming days and that the deal will be announced shortly before or after the Champions League game against Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday.

Read more:

Busquets renewal deal could be close

Juventus and Arsenal monitor Busquets talks

Last meeting to seal Busquets renewal coming up

Busquets renewal deal could be close

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that the contract renewal of Barcelona midfielder and Spanish youth international Sergio Busquets (20) is now very close and that the coming hours could be decisive.

With one or two meetings needed to finish the talks, the player's agent Josep Maria Orobitg could meet with Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain today to close the renewal negotiations.

There would be a principal agreement on the main aspects, with only some details left to be agreed upon. The new contract would be a five-year deal, with Busquets staying officially a B-team player the first year. A low fixed salary will be compensated with high incentives, that can grow over the years which would make him earn from the fourth year on a wage that one can expect from a Barcelona player.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo, that says that both parties already met three times, claims that a new meeting will be held at the end of this week. Madrid sports tabloid Marca claims that everything indicates that the meeting is scheduled for today.

Asked about the negotiations, Orobitg said in an interview with Catalan radio station COM Ràdio that the talks are going in the right direction: "Unless something bad happens, everything looks very good. We all want to close a deal now and have a happy end to this. I can't say it's 100 per cent sure that we'll reach an agreement soon, but the percentage sure is very high.

We have our own, very clear objectives. Busquets has in favour that he can leave for free next summer, that he's young and that he's going through a good moment. But on the other hand, we all know that the only thing he wants is to continue at Barcelona. He wants to be a Barcelona player and he's very satisfied working with the current coach."

Barcelona general director Joan Oliver has said in an interview with Catalan radio station Rac 1 that Barcelona isn't planning to offer him an exaggerated salary: "Both Busquets and the club want him to stay in the Camp Nou, but we'll pay him what we think is right for a rising player. Txiki and his staff have to come to a deal now."

Read more:
Last meeting to seal Busquets renewal coming up
Juventus and Arsenal monitor Busquets talks
Principal agreement on Busquets renewal

Juventus and Arsenal monitor Busquets talks

Italian sports paper Il Corriere dello Sport claims that Juventus is very much interested in Barcelona midfielder and Spanish youth international Sergio Busquets (20) and is ready to contact the player's agent Josep Maria Orobitg soon if the Catalan player doesn't sign a renwal.

British tabloid The People claims that also Arsenal is set to make a move for Busquets if he fails to agree a new contract, with his current deal expiring at the end of this season.

Spanish news agency EFE claims that Barcelona has held on Thursday a third meeting with Orobitg. After Barcelona had rejected a first renewal proposal put forward by the player's agent, the positions would now have come a lot closer, especially regarding the salary.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo confirms that progress was made during a meeting on Thursday morning between Orobitg and Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain and Barcelona general football director Raül Sanllehí. Busquets will sign a five-year deal, but there are still minor differences about the split of the salary in a fixed part and incentives.

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that there's a principal agreement for a five-year renewal (read more here). Busquets would get a serious pay rise. The fixed part would already be agreed upon, but there's still no deal on the incentives. A new meeting next week should resolve the last issues.

Asked about Thursday's meeting, Busquet's agent said to the paper that it has been a key meeting: "There are still some little details left but it's true that we are a lot closer now and I think that we can close everything very soon. Now it's just about some minor issues but those shouldn't block the renewal.

Contracts can be very complex, with a lot of conditions and the incentives are becoming more and more important. Everything is ok but we just need to agree on some things. Both parties are totally willing to reach an agreement and I'm sure it's just a matter of time. When both want the same, and there's no doubt about this here, a deal can only be a matter of time."

Read more:
Milan offers Busquets twice as much as Barcelona
The Arabic tattoo of Busquets
Principal agreement on Busquets renewal

Youth-Barça B: Official team pictures

The sixteen youth teams of Barcelona were yesterday officially presented and had their team picture taken. Since they are officially still part of Barcelona Atlètic, first team players Busquets, Víctor Sánchez and Pedro took part in the session.



See the official team pictures of all the youth teams here

Last meeting to seal Busquets renewal coming up

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that the renewal of Barcelona midfielder and Spanish youth international Sergio Busquets (20) will be closed soon.

Busquets, whose current contract expires at the end of the season, will sign a renewal that will link him to the club for the next five seasons.

A deal has principally been agreed upon (read more here) and now Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain and Josep Maria Orobitg, the agent of the player, will meet a last time to sort out the remaining details and to approve the final version of the contract. The renewal will probably be finalized before the end of this month.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Busquets will sign a five-year contract that has a rather low fixed salary and high incentives based on criteria like the number of matches played.

A new meeting between both parties could be scheduled for next week. Asked about the progress made, Josep Maria Orobitg is quoted by the paper as saying an agreement is imminent: "We're close. With one meeting or two, we could wind it up."

British tabloid The Daily Mail meanwhile claims that English Premier League club Arsenal is ready to make a move for Busquets if the player would still fail to agree a new contract at Barcelona.

After seeing Mathieu Flamini and Alexander Hleb leave his club during the summer, Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger is keen to strengthen his midfield and wouldn't doubt if given the chance to sign the Catalan midfielder, who has attracted the interest from several clubs in England and Italy (read more here).

Read more:

Principal agreement on Busquets renewal

Milan offers Busquets twice as much as Barcelona

Busquets rejects renewal offer

Principal agreement on Busquets renewal

Spanish news agency EFE claims that the contract renewal of Barcelona midfielder and Spanish youth international Sergio Busquets (20) is closer after a new meeting yesterday between Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain and Josep Mario Orobitg, the agent of the player.

Barcelona would have offered Busquets, whose contract expires at the end of the current season, to renew until the summer of 2014.

While Barcelona officials confirmed to the agency that it was a "very positive" meeting, Orobitg said that a renewal deal could be reached soon: "The positions are coming closer. I think we'll need one more meeting before signing the deal."

In an interview with Catalan television channel TV3, Orobitg added that there's an agreement on the main issues: "Now it's just about some little details. Barcelona wants the player to stay and the player wants to continue."

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Busquets has been offered to renew until 2013, while the financial conditions got better. Like his team-mates, the Catalan will now also receive a higher fixed salary with incentives based on his individual performances and the performances of the team.

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona unexpectedly invited Orobitg for a new meeting after Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain and Barcelona general director of football Raúl Sanllehí worked out a new proposal that was seriously higher than the first offer. The deal could now be closed in the coming days.

Asked about the meeting, Orobitg repeats he is positive about the outcome: "The positions came closer and I think we'll have an agreement very soon. This time I can say that I'm optimistic and that I believe that we can finalize the agreement in one or two weeks. Despite having received several offers, we've always said that Barcelona was our priority. And it has been this way. Both Sergio and his father want to continue at the club and we all hope to sign the renewal as soon as possible."

Read more:
Busquets rejects renewal offer

Milan offers Busquets twice as much as Barcelona
Busquets not listening to offers by other clubs

Busquets rejects renewal offer

Madrid sports tabloid Marca claims that Barcelona defensive midfielder and Spanish youth international Sergio Busquets (20), whose contract expires at the end of this season, has rejected a recent renewal offer by Barcelona.

Barcelona would have proposed the player a salary of 500 000 euro plus incentives. The player would receive another 500 000 euro if he plays 60 per cent of the matches and if Barcelona qualifies for the Champions League and an third sum if the team would win one or two trophies.

This offer would have been rejected by Josep Maria Orobitg, the agent of Busquets, who nevertheless will hold new talks with Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain in the coming days trying to reach an agreement.

Catalan sports paper Sport, who thinks that Busquets could earn around 1 million euro, claims that a meeting on Monday was cancelled because of the death of the father of Barcelona goalkeeping coach Unzué (read more here) but that the parties will meet in the coming days. Although the talks are just starting, the club and the player want to find a deal as soon as possible.

Asked about his renewal negotiations, Busquets is quoted by the paper as saying that he's confident about staying: "There's no problem and I'm sure that I will renew my Barcelona contract and that we will find a deal. My agent, Orobitg, is dealing with this issue, while I'm focusing on playing football and enjoying the game. At this moment I'm relaxed about how things are going and all I want right now is to keep on getting playing minutes and the more, the better."

Asked about the renewal negotiations of Busquets and Xavi, Barcelona president Joan Laporta said earlier this week to journalists that he also believes in a good outcome: "The talks are mainly a matter that is een dealt with by Txiki, but I think the negotiations need some time before we concretely reconcile the interests of both parties.

The two players will renew but everybody should be happy with the deal. Xavi and Busquets are both players of the present and future. It's very clear to them that Barcelona is their priority and that's why I am convinced that they will be with us for many more years."

Catalan sports weekly paper Gol claims that AC Milan, Inter Milan, Arsenal, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid would already have contacted Busquets. Turin sports tabloid Tuttosport claims that Juventus is also interested.

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Busquets agent optimistic about renewal

Asked about the rumours on difficult renewal negotions of Barcelona defensive midfielder and Spanish youth international Sergio Busquets (20) (read more here), the player's agent Josep Maria Orobitg has denied in an interview with Italian football site Tuttomercatoweb that there are serious problems:

"Talking about difficulties with the renewal is not correct and does not correspond with the reality. We are still talking, for now there has only been one meeting, so to speak already about problems seems out of place. On the other hand, it is true that he's an interesting young player who, as his contract expires at the end of the season, could be signed for a very low price.

That's why he is followed by several Spanish, English and Italian clubs, although I won't give you any names. Because the talks with Barcelona are still ongoing, it wouldn't be right to give the names but I can assure you that I'm not involved in any type of negotiations with any of those clubs.

We're talking about a very young player but above all a player who has been created, so to say, by Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola, who is also represented by me. So I don't only think he will stay in Spain but I'm very optimistic about his continuation in Barcelona."

Asked about the renewal negotiations with Busquets, Barcelona president Joan Laporta said earlier this week at a press conference that he's also optimistic about a contract renewal: "The relations between the club and the player are excellent. He has made an incredible progress, something we thought could happen when we promoted him to the first team.

We're talking with his agent but we're also in contact with his father, a former player who is part of the technical staff of the club, and we know that his entourage thinks that Barcelona is the best club for him to keep making progress."

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona wants to close the renewals of Busquets and Xavi as soon as possible, preferably in the coming days, so the club can then start working on the cases of Márquez, Puyol and Eto'o.

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