Barcelona legend returns as Belletti's assistant

Sergio Busquets is back at Barcelona. The former defensive midfielder has been announced as assistant coach to Juliano Belletti at Barça Atlètic, the Catalan club's B team. The new role marks the start of his transition into coaching.

Busquets returns to Barcelona three years after leaving the club as a player. Following his departure, the Spaniard played for Inter Miami for two and a half seasons before announcing his retirement from professional football at the end of 2025.

Now, the former midfielder begins working off the pitch while completing a coaching course. The idea is to use his experience to help develop the young players coming through La Masia.

A product of Barcelona's youth academy, Busquets reached the first team in the 2008/09 season under Pep Guardiola. He quickly became one of the key pieces of one of the most successful generations in the club's history.

Over 15 seasons at Barcelona, Busquets played 722 matches, a total that ranks him as the third player with the most appearances in the club's history. During that period, he won 32 titles, including nine Spanish league titles and three Champions League trophies.

With the Spanish national team, the former midfielder also built a standout career. Busquets won the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012, part of the generation that dominated international football during that period.

At Barça Atlètic, Busquets will work alongside Juliano Belletti, the former Brazilian full-back who currently manages the team. Belletti also has a strong connection with Barcelona, where he played between 2004 and 2007 and won major titles.

Busquets' experience could be especially valuable for the club's youth development work. Beyond the knowledge gained throughout his career, the Spaniard has deep understanding of Barcelona's philosophy and went through the same development process as the young talents he will now help guide.

The return also marks the start of a new phase for a player considered a benchmark in the defensive midfield position. His reading of the game and organizational ability in midfield were defining traits throughout his career.

The expectation is that Busquets will spend the coming years gaining experience on the coaching staff and completing his training as a manager. The work at Barça Atlètic could be a first step toward a future career on the touchline.

With the arrival of one of Barcelona's greatest recent icons, Belletti gains an assistant who deeply understands the club's culture. For Busquets, the return to Catalonia represents the chance to begin his coaching journey at the very club where he built his story.