Sergio Busquets is already moving like a footballer who is closing the circle. At 37 years old, the Inter Miami midfielder admitted that he is living “his final days as a professional” and that his retirement could come as soon as this Sunday if the team is eliminated by FC Cincinnati in the Eastern Conference semifinals of the MLS Cup.

“I’ve accepted it. I’m enjoying this and hoping to extend it two more games,” the Spaniard said before training under Gerardo Martino. His farewell, announced last month, always carried one uncertain condition: it depended on how far Miami advanced in the playoffs. If Miami reach the final, Busquets would still have three matches left; if they fall in Cincinnati, the goodbye will be immediate.

What hasn’t changed is his peace of mind. “The important thing is having a clear conscience and being sure of the decision. There’s no doubt about that,” he emphasized.

Pride in His Time in Miami and a Barça Exit That Changed Everything

In a more personal reflection, Busquets said that his two and a half years with Inter Miami have been “a challenge” that forced him to leave the comfort he had as captain of FC Barcelona in 2023. “I’m very happy, I don’t regret it. It’s been an honor to contribute to the club’s growth, to the league, and to my teammates,” he said.

On the pitch, his impact in MLS was immediate: leadership, tempo control, competitiveness and a seamless connection with Lionel Messi once the Argentine arrived in Miami. It’s no surprise Busquets also commented on Messi’s recent unannounced visit to the Camp Nou, a moment that caught him off guard. “It’s an honor that they still associate him with Barça,” he said naturally, like someone who knows the inner workings of the Catalan club.

A Retirement Framed by Sporting Decisions… and External Controversies

Busquets also offered a subtle but direct critique of LaLiga after the cancellation of the planned match between Barcelona and Villarreal in Miami this December. “You can’t choose teams without knowing the conditions or what’s going to happen,” he pointed out, though he acknowledged that internationalizing competitions “is good for the sport.”

Meanwhile, the immediate focus is clear: Cincinnati. That’s where a nearly twenty-year career could end, one defined by elegance, intelligence in silence, and a style that redefined the role of the holding midfielder.

Sergio Busquets’ retirement is one match away… or three. But he already faces it with serenity, fully aware that his legacy is long sealed.