Dutch football legend Wesley Sneijder recently reflected on his competitive encounters with Sergio Busquets during a memorable match between Inter and Barcelona in 2010. Sneijder, known for his candidness, shared his feelings about the challenges he faced against the former Barcelona midfielder, stating that he found Busquets to be quite a formidable opponent. His remarks highlight the intensity of their rivalry and the impact Busquets had on the pitch.
Sneijder's take on Sergio Busquets
Sneijder reflected on his experiences playing against Busquets, describing him as a player who had a unique style of play. He noted that Busquets was skilled at initiating plays but sometimes struggled with receiving the same level of physicality he dished out. This occasionally led to moments where Busquets would react strongly after tackles, which Sneijder found frustrating.
Sneijder also recounted their intense matchup in the 2009/10 Champions League semi-final between Inter and Barcelona. In that series, Inter triumphed over Barcelona 3-1 at home, but in the return leg at Camp Nou. A pivotal moment occurred when Motta tackled Busquets early in the game. Sneijder observed Busquets rolling on the ground, seemingly assessing the situation before quickly bouncing back to continue play.
"In 2010 we beat Barcelona 3-1 at home, then we had to go to Camp Nou and after eight minutes, [Thiago] Motta hit him and Busquets started rolling on the ground while looking through his hands to see if Motta got a red card, and then he got up again and he was fine, the cry-baby. A nasty guy to play against." - Sneijder said.
Busquets departed from the Camp Nou last summer after securing every trophy available, including an impressive nine La Liga titles and three Champions League victories. He chose to follow his longtime colleague and close friend, Lionel Messi, to the MLS, joining the co-owned club by David Beckham, Inter Miami. During his inaugural season with the American side, the midfielder not only triumphed in the Leagues Cup but also recently clinched the Supporters' Shield.