Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets spoke to SPORT about missing out on FIFA’s World XI, his idols as a young footballer and his thoughts on social media…

Toni Juanmarti

On the pitch, Busquets has always been vital for Barça, but how have you evolved in the dressing room?

The years have provided me with a lot of experience. I learnt from older players about what to do in each moment - and that includes co-existence.

But now you’re one of the captains. Do you feel more important?

I’ve always felt quite important, knowing at every moment the role I had. It’s not the same role as when I was promoted to the first team, though, no. Now I am the third captain. It’s clear there’s been a change.

No-one doubts that every day you are a better player - what’s the secret?

I am very self-critical - maybe too much. I look at how the game has gone, what I did well, what I did not so well, what I can do better… Also, I think [taking care] of the day-to-day things is fundamental. In your social life you have to take care of yourself as well as you can: rest well, train at top form, learn from your team-mates, your manager. I hope to continue improving and maturing and to always be one of the pillars of this Barça.

What moment did you think you had a chance at becoming professional?

When I passed from Juvenil A to Barça B. You stop playing with and against people of your age and start against people who could be 10 years older. It’s the leap forward that lets you know whether you can [make it] or not. I didn’t know that everything would go as well as it has, but I had that feeling [I could become a professional].

Before you made it, which players did you look up to?

I didn’t have a clear idol, but I looked at players with tactical similarities. I looked at Patrick Vieira, then Xavi and also Yaya Toure. I have to say that I learnt a lot from Yaya.

You’ve had the luck to experience Barça’s best ever era…

It’s costs a lot to win and, on a day-to-day basis, even more. It’s a dream I never would have imagined. We have to continue to make sure that this does not end.

You’ve won so much, but does one moment stay with you?

With Spain, to win the World Cup is incredible. To win a final in extra-time, with penalties approaching… As for club level, the trebles and the sextet mean a lot, but the Champions League final which we won at Wembley stays with me, because of the way we won it. For a team-mate like Abidal, after all that had happened, to win the final left a great taste.

Incredibly you weren’t in FIFA’s World XI - does it leave a bad taste?

On one side of things, everyone wants their work to be recognised. On the other, I know that these prizes, sometimes, are a little more to do with popularity than other things. There were a lot of players missing who had a great season, like many members of our side which won the treble. But it’s also true that those who were there, except one player who spent a lot of time injured, are great players. What stays with me is that I’ve worked well and the important thing is that we won the treble as a team - and then later added two more trophies.

The feeling from outside is that Busquets likes to stay away from the media spotlight, why is that?

I’m away from the media focus. I don’t use social media and I don’t want to attract attention. I decided that I prefer to do well on the pitch and be recognised by the people who really like and understand football - and I am happy with that. I prefer that at the end of the season we win team titles; the individual awards can stay on the side.

Speaking of social networks, are you sure you won’t join one one day?

[Laughs] I’ll think about it, it’s a difficult decision. Since I reached the first tam, I didn’t see it as necessary to join social network sites. We already have the press, and that is enough. Sometime social media is used well, other times, though, it’s used not so well. You have to have a balance and know how to use it well.

You’re about to sign a new contract?

As the president has said, yes. I don’t know if it will be sooner or later, but I am relaxed about it because I know [the president] will stick to his word and we hope it will happen as soon as possible.

Finally, you will soon become a father. How will that change your life?

I hope it changes nothing on a football level. Personally, perhaps. Maybe not in the life I have, though. I have a really calm life and I’m at home a lot. But it’s true that soon the priority will be [the baby].

One more - are Atletico bigger rivals than Madrid now?

At the moment, you can say Atletico are stronger than Real Madrid. Everyone believes that they will fight for the title. They're getting better all the time, they have really good players and they'll be there until the end of the season.