Bukayo Saka has named Sergio Busquets his toughest opponent ever. The Arsenal winger was said to have been ‘blown away’ by the Barcelona midfielder in preparation for the 2019 season. In conversation with GQ Magazine Saka praises his colleague. Lionel Messi also gets a big feather in the youngster’s ass.
Barcelona and Arsenal faced each other on August 4, 2019 in preparation for the 2019/20 season. Despite a goal from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the Catalan superpower triumphed 2-1. For Saka, Busquets’ performance has stuck with me the most. “The way he turned away from me so elegantly…”, the winger recalls. “I came up to him to push him, tried to fake one side, but he embarrassed me. I was like, yes, this guy is elite.”
Considered by many to be one of the most underrated players in the world, Busquets has gained several admirers over the years. The midfielder has played 672 official games on behalf of the Catalan top club so far. Together with Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andrés Iniesta and Gerard Pique, he is one of the five players who have touched the magical limit of six hundred games. “Busquets is three steps ahead of everyone and that makes you a top football player. I realized that that day,” said Saka.
Saka also praised another Barcelona icon, admitting he would like to score an equal goal as Messi’s superb solo in the 2015 Copa del Rey final against Athletic Club. “Because of the moment,” he adds. “Now that I’m playing football, I see how hard it is to score goals like that. People try to kick him, knock him down, and he just keeps going. And that in a final. I was like, wow. If he says he’s passing you don’t stop him yet.”
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