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Barcelona said goodbye to two club legends in an emotional ceremony in their last home game of the season
Barcelona said an emotional goodbye to legends Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets as well as the Spotify Camp Nou in their last home fixture of the 2022/23 season, with the players announcing their departures at the end of the season and the stadium set to undergo a rejuvenation next season.
Alba and Busquets call time on long Barcelona careers
Alba and Busquets have been long-serving members of the club, with the full back joining the Blaugrana in 2012 and the midfielder starting out his senior career with Barcelona in 2008.
After numerous honours with the club, both players decided to end their time with Barcelona this season and were giving the heroes send-off that they deserved, with the club’s president and fans, as well as their teammates, paying homage to them.
Alba and Busquets were serenaded with a standing ovation during Barcelona’s 3-0 win over Mallorca, and after the match were presented with honorary plaques by President Joan Laporta and gave farewell speeches to the players, staff and fans.
Busquets and Alba bid emotional farewell
Outgoing captain, Busquets, said, “I would like to thank everyone. It was a pleasure to play here. Thank you to my family who have always accompanied me, I love you. I’m very proud to be at the best club in the world. I am a socio, a fan. Today I’m leaving, but my dream has come true.
”Barca is the best club in the world, with the best fans. Since childhood, I dreamed of one day playing at the Spotify Camp Nou, which in a few months will once again become the best stadium in the world.”
While Alba who played for seven years in the club’s academy and 11 years with the senior team thanked the club and paid respects to Barcelona’s late manager Tito Villanova who was the mastermind behind the full-back’s return to the club.
“I would like to thank everyone, it was an honour to defend these colours. Alba started, “Today I have to remember the many people who have played a big role in my career.
“I didn’t expect to receive so much love, it’s the best day of my life professionally speaking,” said an emotional Alba.
“I haven’t won as much as Busquets, but what I’ve won isn’t bad either. Thoughts too for the one who signed me in 2012, Tito Vilanova.”
The departure of three of Barcelona’s highest earners this season, Gerard Pique, Alba, and Busquets will help the club make significant reductions in expenditure that could open the door for a return of Blaugrana legend Lionel Messi from PSG in the summer.
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