Arsenal superstar Bukayo Saka has named Sergio Busquets as the player that blew him away the most after facing off against the FC Barcelona star in 2019.
In an interview with GQ Magazine, the England international revealed that the veteran midfielder was the one rival player that impressed him the most, with Arsenal facing Barcelona in a pre-season friendly three years ago.
In the season of Saka’s breakthrough, the youngster was given an appearance at the Nou Camp where Barcelona would eventually emerge 2-1 winners through a late Luis Suarez goal.
However, what stuck with Saka the most was his battles against Busquets, with the Arsenal star revealing that the 33-year-old midfielder embarrassed him in Catalonia that night in what was a huge learning experience for the youngster.
Saka said when asked about his hardest opponent: “Sergio Busquets. The way he just so elegantly turned me! I came at him to press him, I tried to fake this side then go to the other, and the way he just embarrassed me.
The Arsenal star added: “I was just like, ‘yeah, this guy is elite’. The way he just took me out of the play, I said, ‘Respect.’ [Busquets] is three steps ahead of everyone, and that’s what makes you a top footballer. That’s what I realised that day.”
Busquets praise is a surprise given Saka’s best position for Arsenal
With Saka naturally a winger, the attacker’s praise for Busquets is unusual given the Barcelona legend’s reputation as a metronomic midfielder who keeps the ball moving and occasionally shields the defence.
Yet the admiration for the Spanish international only highlights just how intelligent Saka is as a player, with his praise for Busquets a testament to how much the Arsenal star wants to learn about the game and where he could potentially see himself playing one day.
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