Sergio Busquets, Barcelona Reportedly Agree to New Contract

Sergio Busquets will remain an essential figure at Barcelona after agreeing a new contract with the La Liga club. Busquets will now remain with the Catalan giants until 2019 with an optional extra year involved in the deal, according to AS.

The report states the new contract is essentially just a two-year extension of Busquets' current deal. However, one key difference involves the player's image rights which have been altered to boost the 26-year-old's wages.

Whatever the exact and final language, keeping Busquets is a very smart move. He's one of the best holding midfielders in European football and has been ever since former manager Pep Guardiola promoted him from the B team.

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It was one of Guardiola's first moves when he took over the seniors in 2008. It also proved to be one of his best decisions.

Busquets' height, power, defensive awareness and positional instincts are rare qualities in a squad otherwise populated by diminutive, forward-thinking stars. He provides the platform for Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi to weave their magic.

What makes Busquets stand out is how he combines his more robust attributes with high technical quality on the ball. He's not out of place in Barca's now signature possession-based, fluid style.

Keeping Busquets around ensures some vital solidity at the base of the Barcelona midfield and in front of a defence that's been less than solid at times this season.