When Aleix Santacana, speaker at the Camp Nou since 2016, announced the Barcelona eleven, two numbers, number five and number 18, were especially acclaimed. There were plenty of reasons. These numbers belong until June 30 to Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. Two captains. Two Barcelona emblems that were part of the best Barça in history. Two footballers who have decided that their time with the club of their lives is over.
Busquets' 15 years and Alba's 11 years in the first team speak for themselves. And Barcelona fans, always grateful to those who have made them go out and enjoy themselves, thanked them. Just like Xavi, who gave them their last match at the Camp Nou as starters and with him the last official photograph of the eleven for Barcelona lands. For the occasion, Jordi Alba took his children, Piero and Bruna, by the hand. Busquets did the same with little Enzo and Levi. A beautiful print.
When the match ended, both captains said goodbye with two heartfelt speeches. “I want to remember someone special. From Tito Vilanova, who signed me in 2012”, said Alba. “I want to thank all the current players and all those who have accompanied me during these years. To the coaches I've had. To the club workers. Also to you. It has been a pleasure to be able to play here”, said Busquets.
Both leave with the same feeling of nostalgia and gratitude Gallina de Piel that Johan Cruyff would say. But for different reasons. Alba's decision, who is leaving the club after eleven seasons in which he has won 18 titles, is based on sporting reasons. The left-back knew that he was not going to be the protagonist. In fact, this course Alejandro Balde has already taken away a lot of prominence. Enough reasons to decide to leave a year before he finished his contract. “This year I've had less prominence but that's not why I've felt less important. I have helped everyone and I am very proud. I will continue to help in whatever way I can,” Alba said.
This is not the case of Sergio Busquets, the undisputed starter since he made his debut with Pep Guardiola in 2008. He seated Touré Yaya until today. He never had competition. He never lacked minutes to win the 32 titles that appear in his record as a Barcelona fan. But at 34, the man from Badia del Vallés, an essential defensive pivot for Xavi, has had enough. With his stomach full of titles and matches, he decided to lift the League and reject the club's renewal proposal. “Since I was little I dreamed of playing here. I'm leaving happy and satisfied, ”Busi explained that he also wanted to say goodbye to the Camp Nou.
“We put a point and part to return to have the best stadium. A field up to what this club deserves”, said Busquets who will head towards less demanding football. Who knows if Saudi Arabia. Who knows if Miami. And who knows if with Leo Messi, who will not renew with PSG; Andrés Iniesta, who recently ended his spell at Vissel Kobe but wants to continue playing; or even with Jordi Alba himself. Everything is cooking these days.
Xavi wanted to give them one last moment. In the 65th minute he called on Eric Garcia and Marcos Alonso to warm up. The delegate Carles Naval prepared his blackboard. And over the public address system of the Blaugrana fiefdom, the phrase “changed the ranks of FC Barcelona” sounded for them for the last time with an elegant as well as emotional tone. Xavi managed well to perform them separately. He told them to enjoy it. That not everyone could say goodbye like that. The first to leave was Jordi Alba. Excited, the full-back hugged Busquets first. Then the rest of the players. And he went to the bench with the entire Camp Nou chanting his name. "Today has been the best day of my professional life," he later confessed. Four minutes later, at minute 88, the number five lit up on the board. Eric Garcia waited in the band applauding to receive an also moved Sergio Busquets. There were hugs and applause for him too. Before he gave the captain's armband to Sergi Roberto. The captain will not go out again with the Barcelona shirt. He will not be in Vigo or in the friendly that Barcelona will play in Japan.
Busquets leaves. Problems for Xavi who will need all the help in the world (and money) to find the piece that has activated the entire Barcelona machine until yesterday. Not so much to cover the loss of Jordi Alba. With Balde and Marcos Alonso, the position of the Barcelona left-back is covered.
President Joan Laporta came down. And the entire squad made the corridor for their two captains. Ansu Fati with Jordi Alba's shirt on backwards. The left-back came out with the Super Cup trophy. Busquets followed with the League Cup. The president awarded them a commemorative plaque. They raised it in front of their stadium while the video scoreboard for the north goal, the only one that the Camp Nou still has, projected images and statements from a lifetime in blaugrana. Many contributed by Barça TV. "I am a partner. Amateur. And now I'm leaving but with all dreams fulfilled. This is not a good bye. It's a see you soon”, warned Busquets. Just as they looked on their shirts, both captains leave a Camp Nou full of history. Full of future.
