Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets signs new five-year deal

The Spain international has extended his existing deal with the La Liga Champions by a further two years, keeping him at the Nou Camp until 2021, with an option to extend that through to 2023.

Busquets came through Barca’s La Masia academy and played for the club’s reserve teams before making his full first-team debut in 2008.

The 28-year-old has gone to feature 250 times for the Catalan giants, helping the club to six La Liga titles, three Champions League triumphs and four Copa del Rey wins during that time.

Manchester City had been among those linked with a move for the holding midfielder, but his buyout clause has been reportedly set at €200m as part of the new deal.

The 'MSN' steal the majority of the headlines, while Andres Iniesta and Xavi were the more eye-catching of Barcelona's midfielder triumvirate, but it is Busquets who's been the linchpin at the Nou Camp during their decade of dominance.

Busquets is a technically superb footballer, yet it is his reading of the game that makes him so special: he anticipates danger like a centre-back, but is able to pick a pass to match all-but the very best trequartistas.

This deal effectively ensures that Busquets will see out his career at Barcelona, with the possible extended deal through to 2023 meaning he'd still be there at the age of 25. It's a big deal for a player of his age, but it's one that makes sense for both parties.