Busquets joins Barcelona's coaching staff eight months after retirement

Sergio Busquets is returning to FC Barcelona eight months after hanging up his boots, but this time on the bench. The Catalan club announced on Monday, August 17, 2026, that the Spanish midfielder, who retired at the end of 2025 after his spell at Inter Miami, is joining the Barça Atlètic staff as assistant coach.

Busquets will work alongside Juliano Belletti, appointed head coach of Barcelona’s reserve team. The Brazilian knows the club well: he wore the blaugrana shirt between 2004 and 2007 and scored the decisive goal in the 2006 Ligue des Champions final against Arsenal. For Busquets, this is his very first experience away from the pitch.

The trophy haul the Spaniard brings with him is considerable. In 722 matches in Barcelona colours, he won 32 trophies, including nine La Liga titles and three Ligues des Champions. To this can be added a World Cup title in 2010 and a European Championship with the Spanish national team. Trained at La Masia, he knows better than anyone the demands and values of the club he is now set to pass on.

His mission will be to oversee the young talents of the Catalan academy within Barça Atlètic, which competes in Spain’s fourth division. The reserve club serves as a springboard for talents from La Masia before a possible integration into the professional squad.

This return comes during a particularly busy summer transfer window in 2026 for the Spanish champions. Barcelona have signed Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi and Jesse Bisiwu, while Rodri and Joao Cancelo are reported to be close to signing. On the departure front, Robert Lewandowski, Marc-André ter Stegen, Ronald Araújo and Ansu Fati have left the club.