When Josep Guardiola made him debut against Racing alongside Pedro Rodríguez, no one suspected that Sergio Busquets' international career could be as colossal as it has been. It was not a promise that came pointing from the cradle. But Badia's pivot, always speaking on the field, became fundamental at Barça and later, thanks to Vicente del Bosque, in the Spanish team.
He landed in 'la roja' and has remained a pillar for 14 years. To the point of being one of the foundations on which Spain based the best successes in its history. The 2010 world title and the 2012 European title would not be understood without the figure of Busquets, one of the flagships of an era and one of the champions of a style that with victories remained in vogue and that with defeats is in discussion in the bull's skin.
Few phrases are as significant to understand the depth of Busquets as the one pronounced by Del Bosque in the middle of the World Cup in South Africa and with the Madrid critics questioning his presence in the eleven. "If I could reincarnate myself in a footballer, it would be in Busquets," said the then coach. He kept it through thick and thin and the facts proved him right.
No other subsequent coach dared to do without the midfielder. Neither in his best moments with Barça nor in his worst. Busquets was always a fixture with the national team. He came every time with the illusion of the first day, without ever generating any problem or controversy.
At one time, his contemporaries, with a large presence of Barcelona fans with 'la roja' Busquets, became the blaugrana player who played for Spain the most times in all of history. He did not need to score many goals or shoot on goal frequently. It was worth it with his mastery to order a team that bit in defense and hit in attack but that was characterized by the rhythm that he printed from the engine room.
