Barcelona secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over RCD Mallorca in their final home game of the season. But the game garnered attention for being the final game for two of the club’s veterans Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
Speaking after the game, Sergi Roberto revealed how it was a special moment for him when Busquets handed him the armband.
“I will always remember the moment when Sergi gave me the bracelet,” he said. With Busquets and Alba leaving Camp Nou at the end of the season, Roberto would become the first captain of Barcelona next season.
“Now it will be my turn to be the first, when I was in the group of captains I always said that I was proud and now for me, it is immense pride,” he added.
Roberto went on to heap praise on both Alba and Busquets, adding, “We prepared the game thinking that Busi, Jordi and Camp Nou would have the farewell they deserve. They were very important players for the club and they helped me a lot. Busquets helped me from the first day I joined the first team”.
“It hurts to say goodbye to two colleagues who are as important in my career as Busquets and Alba. I wish them and their family the best. It’s a sad day. When you play a lot of games here, Camp Nou is like your home,” said Marc-Andre ter Stegen, another Barcelona captain who made history by equalling Francisco Liano’s record of 26 clean sheets in a single season.
“It is obvious that, if we look at the numbers, the season is extraordinary and historic. I have felt very good throughout the season, but I am also happy for my teammates. Achieving these numbers makes me very proud to play for a club like Barça,” ter Stegen said when asked about his feat.
The German international added that he would want to break the record in the final game of the season when Barcelona take on Celta Vigo.
“Now, the goal is to overcome it. Once you are there, you have to attack it. It is not my mission, but the whole team’s. I have to admit that now I am calmer, reaching this point and not equaling the record would have been very hard,” he said.
Ter Stegen also confirmed he is open to a potential salary reduction, in order to help Barcelona reduce the salary mass, which in turn, could help them sign new players.
“Reducing my salary? I’m always open to listen and talk. We have already made a lot of efforts,” he said.
Source: BarçaTV+
