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Goal.com 50: Sergio Busquets (29)
Goal.com's countdown of the best 50 players of 2010-11 continues with a midfielder who played an important role in Barcelona's dominance of last season
Aug 4, 2011 5:00:00 AM
By Robin Bairner
Getty Images
Welcome to the Goal.com 50! In this special series, Goal.com editors worldwide vote for the top 50 players of 2010-11. We count down to the announcement of the winner on August 21 with profiles of each and every player who made it into the top 50...
Prior to the 2010 World Cup, there were doubts raised over the suitability of Sergio Busquets to not only play a crucial role in the efforts of Spain and Barcelona, but simply to fit into such illustrious squads at all. Only 12 months later, the young midfielder has proven his critics wrong, acting as a stabilizing force as the Catalans were once again crowned European champions.
Alongside Xavi and Andres Iniesta – two titans of the modern game – Busquets can be cast into the shadows at times, but though his role is not normally as glamorous as that of his two counterparts, there can be little doubt that he provides some steel that compliments his teammates’ silk, allowing both to shine to their full extent.
But Busquets should not be dismissed purely as a laborer in the middle of the field. To do so would not pay justice to his abilities as a footballer. As one would expect of an established starter at Camp Nou, the 23-year-old displays formidable technique, which was perhaps best showcased when he scored a fine goal against Athletic Bilbao to secure a 3-1 victory for Barca in an early season encounter at San Mames.
That would be the sole occasion the holding midfielder would find the net all season – excluding, of course, his own goal against Arsenal in the Champions League last 16 stage – but his role was primarily an anchoring one.
The adaptability of the Sabadell-born player was also to be a vital asset for his club, and potentially the one that allowed them to achieve success both in Spain and in Europe. When an injury crisis rocked the rearguard, Pep Guardiola looked to the young midfielder to plug the gap in a completely new area of the pitch.
Busquets also brought some attitude to the Barca ranks. Criticized for being prone to collapse to the ground under slight contact, he was certainly not afraid to get in opponents’ faces and under their skin, becoming one of the chief protagonists in the heated series of Clasico fixtures during the spring.
Guardiola’s men did not come through those fixtures completely unscathed, surrendering the Copa del Rey final to great rivals Real Madrid, but they would progress into the Champions League final, in which Busquets was to be a big role in the monopolization of the ball Barcelona enjoyed. Capping a fine display, he would supply the pass for David Villa to put the game out of sight at 3-1.
By picking up the Champions League trophy, the midfielder would pick up his 10th major honor for Barcelona less than three years after making his senior bow.
Over that period of time, there can be little doubt that Busquets has developed his game impressively and has crucially carved a niche for himself in the makeup of Guardiola’s Barcelona. Too often dismissed purely as a destructive player, in reality there is a great deal more to his game than simply acting as a spoiler, as his place in this list of football’s elite is testament to.
Prior to the 2010 World Cup, there were doubts raised over the suitability of Sergio Busquets to not only play a crucial role in the efforts of Spain and Barcelona, but simply to fit into such illustrious squads at all. Only 12 months later, the young midfielder has proven his critics wrong, acting as a stabilizing force as the Catalans were once again crowned European champions.
Alongside Xavi and Andres Iniesta – two titans of the modern game – Busquets can be cast into the shadows at times, but though his role is not normally as glamorous as that of his two counterparts, there can be little doubt that he provides some steel that compliments his teammates’ silk, allowing both to shine to their full extent.
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"Having a player like him in the team is crucial." - Andres Iniesta |
But Busquets should not be dismissed purely as a laborer in the middle of the field. To do so would not pay justice to his abilities as a footballer. As one would expect of an established starter at Camp Nou, the 23-year-old displays formidable technique, which was perhaps best showcased when he scored a fine goal against Athletic Bilbao to secure a 3-1 victory for Barca in an early season encounter at San Mames.
| MOMENT OF THE SEASON |
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| LA LIGA ATHLETIC BILBAO 1-3 BARCELONA |
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| With time running out on a sodden night in Bilbao, Busquets broke forward late into the box to lash home a fine shot into the top corner of the net, securing a hard-fought 3-1 win for his side. | |
The adaptability of the Sabadell-born player was also to be a vital asset for his club, and potentially the one that allowed them to achieve success both in Spain and in Europe. When an injury crisis rocked the rearguard, Pep Guardiola looked to the young midfielder to plug the gap in a completely new area of the pitch.
Busquets also brought some attitude to the Barca ranks. Criticized for being prone to collapse to the ground under slight contact, he was certainly not afraid to get in opponents’ faces and under their skin, becoming one of the chief protagonists in the heated series of Clasico fixtures during the spring.
Guardiola’s men did not come through those fixtures completely unscathed, surrendering the Copa del Rey final to great rivals Real Madrid, but they would progress into the Champions League final, in which Busquets was to be a big role in the monopolization of the ball Barcelona enjoyed. Capping a fine display, he would supply the pass for David Villa to put the game out of sight at 3-1.
| "Busquets should not be dismissed purely as a laborer in the middle of the field. To do so would not pay justice to his abilities as a footballer." |
By picking up the Champions League trophy, the midfielder would pick up his 10th major honor for Barcelona less than three years after making his senior bow.
Over that period of time, there can be little doubt that Busquets has developed his game impressively and has crucially carved a niche for himself in the makeup of Guardiola’s Barcelona. Too often dismissed purely as a destructive player, in reality there is a great deal more to his game than simply acting as a spoiler, as his place in this list of football’s elite is testament to.
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