FC Barcelona is already working on planning for the next season. With the season closed with a double —La Liga and Copa del Rey—, the club now faces its next big challenge: restructuring the squad. In that process, the list of departures is starting to generate more concern than excitement.
One of the confirmed departures has set off alarms in the sports management. It is a homegrown player, one of those marked as future leaders. Someone many saw as the natural heir to a club legend.
Deco | FC Barcelona
Busquets's legacy is left without a successor
Sergio Busquets left an indelible mark in Barça's midfield. His tactical ability, his reading of the game, and his calmness with the ball made him a global reference. Since his departure, the club hasn't managed to find a stable replacement.
In La Masia there was a profile that excited. He was trained following Busquets's mold, understood the system, and mastered the automatisms. It seemed a matter of time before he took over.
But that future won't come. The player has decided to reject the club's renewal offer. His relationship with the coaching staff and sports management has deteriorated over the months.
He has barely had any playing time in either the first team or the reserves. That lack of opportunities has weighed heavily. His entourage believes his progress hasn't been valued.
A frustrated signing from within
At Barça they were convinced of his continuity. Even Deco trusted he would be a key piece of Hansi Flick's new project.
But something broke in recent months. The player stopped appearing in the line-ups and lost prominence. He felt deceived by unfulfilled promises and started listening to other offers.
Hansi Flick | @FCBarcelona
The midfielder's destination will be Saudi Arabia. Several clubs have shown interest in signing him, with financial proposals far superior to Barça's.
Additionally, he would find the continuity he has long demanded and would be a starter from day one. One of the country's most powerful teams has made him a priority.
He will share a locker room with a legend
It's not just about the money. The player will have the opportunity to share a team with Cristiano Ronaldo, who continues to lead his club in Arabia.
It will be a privilege to learn alongside him and an opportunity to project his career from an expanding league. His entourage believes it's the logical step after what he experienced in Barcelona.
The departure of this promising player is not just another exit. It's a symptom that something is still failing in the management of young talent. Barça can't afford to lose pieces like this.
The fans are already reacting with resignation. Many lament that a player of his profile is leaving without having had a real opportunity. Everything points to him not being the last.
The player we are talking about is Pau Prim, a 19-year-old midfielder trained at La Masia. Compared for years to Sergio Busquets, he has decided to pack his bags for Saudi Arabia.
There, everything indicates that he will play on the same team as Cristiano Ronaldo. Barça loses its future pivot without having given him real space. A difficult void to fill.
