Now that Busquets has retired from playing football, it's worth remembering the afternoon of his La Liga debut with Barça. It was September 2008. Pep Guardiola was also making his La Liga debut as a manager at the Camp Nou and, to everyone's surprise, he started the young man from Badia, who had just turned 20. They were coming off a 1-0 loss to Numancia, and that afternoon they drew 1-1 with Racing Santander. One point out of six and only one goal scored, a penalty. Only Cruyff came out to defend the team's performance in an article in which, as usual, he contradicted everyone: "This Barça looks very promising. I don't know which match you all saw, but what I saw hadn't been seen at the Camp Nou for a long time. Numerically speaking, it's the worst start of..."
That's exactly what geniuses are: ahead of their time. From that day on, we never stopped seeing things that had never been seen at the Camp Nou before. With Busquets, the football world began to talk about the importance of... fiveMenotti was amazed by his play, by how he deceived opposing players with his body and the ball: "I don't recall a footballer of that quality and understanding; it's incredible how little distance he covers to win the ball back or make a pass. When the ball reaches him, he already has everything planned out in his head." Del Bosque said that, if he were to play again, he would like to be like Busquets.
It's often said that Pedri has Xavi's vision and passing ability, and Iniesta's ball control and one-on-one skills, but when he imposes his will in midfield, surrounded by opponents, with disconcerting composure, he also brings to mind Busquets. They are players for a certain style of play, the style that made Barça one of the best teams in history.
