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The Catalan club has always been the one to linked with terminologies like loyalty and home-grown talents. From the Cruyff's ideology of the La Masia system, which has contributed to the majority of Barcelona's recent success to the values associated with the club. Mes Que Un Club, as the club motto reads is the perfect microcosm of what the world and Barcelona fans, in particular, feel about the Sporting Institution, which is much more than just a Sporting Institution.
From chanting in what is their certainly their cathedral of modern art, the Camp Nou, Europe's biggest stadium, to defending the club's values and spirit all over Europe, fans have witnessed some of the finest football being played over the green grass in the historic stadium, and a lot of legendary players have left their mark in the glorious history of the club. Although not a lot of players have spent all of their sporting careers at Barcelona, a majority of them have delivered in their peak for the Cules, who are likely to bid farewell a few more modern legends in the near future.
Let's look at a few players who are set to spend all of what remains in their career at the Catalan club:
#1 Andres Iniesta
Certainly one player likely to end his career at the Nou Camp, the Artist signed a lifetime contract with his boyhood club this summer. The summer of 2017 was a turbulent one for Barcelona fans, as they could be in for a huge loss in the form of Iniesta, who was highly linked with a move to Juventus. To add to the pain, a terrible performance in the transfer window lead to the fans collaborating against the board's incompetence but Iniesta's renewal came out of nothing, easing the pressure from the under-fire board and giving a news that fans wanted to hear for a long time.
Iniesta has spent all his life at the Catalan capital and was at the helm of the club's most successful run under Pep Guardiola. Part of a formidable midfield duo with compatriot Xavi Hernandez, Iniesta has been the part of so much at the Nou Camp. A mentor for the La Masia graduates and a father-figure in the dressing room, age certainly doesn't take its toll on the little don, as they call him in Spain.
One of the finest midfielders of all time, the Spaniard contributes massively to the Barcelona game-plan. Not only known for his amazing passing skills but also his dribbling skills and calmness on the ball, the Blaugrana Captain certainly brings with him the fan's affection wherever he goes. While the idea of Iniesta's retirement haunts everyone linked with the game, it is sad to accept the fact that we are witnessing what may be the last few seasons of magic from the magician.
"You (Xavi) will retire me, but this kid (Iniesta) will retire us (Pep and Xavi) both." - Pep Guardiola in a La Masia training session after watching Iniesta play
While Xavi has made his future plans of managing Barcelona clear, Iniesta's unmatched understanding of the game and the affection he receives from the fans could be reasons for the midfielder to stay linked with the club of his life. Like many players have done in the past, Iniesta could stick with Barcelona even after his retirement by taking up a managerial post.
#2 Sergio Busquets
The Octopus of Badia, as he is called by the people inside the Nou Camp, Sergio Busquets may not be the most physical and dynamic midfielder but the Catalan man checks all the boxes for being the perfect Barcelona anchor in the midfield. A product of the La Masia youth system, Busquets was promoted under the guidance of Pep Guardiola, and ever since, he hasn't looked back even once.
Gradually cementing his place in a Barcelona squad full of world-class midfielders, Sergio Busquets is one of the most technically advanced and gifted midfielders of the 21st century. Considerably lacking a recognition for his talents, the Barcelona Number 05, aged 29 is at the peak of his career, and with youth prospects like Sergi Samper and Oriol Busquets ready to pounce upon his position in the near future, Busquets would like to turn into a mentor for the Catalan club after his playing days are over.
Sergio Busquets' current contract with FC Barcelona runs until the summer of 2021. The experienced midfielder would be 33 by the time his current deal expires, and at that age, with the ever-growing physicality of the game, Busquets isn't likely to move to another European superpower. Sergio earned his spot in the Barcelona first team in July 2008 and made a rapid adaption to the main squad, developing into an acclaimed man in the dressing room.
"If I were a player, I would like to be Busquets." -Vicente del Bosque
Barcelona fans are set to enjoy the Octopus from Badia to steal the show week in and week-out with his dominance over the midfield for years to come, and even possibly to witness his managerial and sporting domains after his run of skills on the pitch is over. Busquets is one of the only Barcelona players who has managed to stay away from transfer rumours ever since breaking into the first team, a remarkable feat which also asserts the Spaniard's loyalty to his boyhood club.
#3 Sergi Roberto
Amidst all sorts of rumours regarding a summer move to Manchester United, interests from Liverpool, Chelsea, Juventus, and Real Madrid to name a few, and reports of a fractured relationship between the midfielder and the Barcelona Board, the fans received a huge gift in the form of Roberto pledging his life to Barcelona.
The hero of the comeback against Paris Saint-Germain, Sergi Roberto recently spoke about his contractual situation with Barcelona. Sergi's current contract with FCB expires in the summer of 2019. The youngster spoke positively regarding the negotiations on his new contract with his boyhood club. In another interview, Roberto assured the fans of his loyalty to the Nou Camp and advised them to remain calm regarding his contractual situation.
"The negotiations are going well. I've been a Barca person since I was a kid so I think we should be able to reach an agreement without any problems. There are always small things to discuss. That is what we are talking about in meetings, but I think everything is under control." - Sergi Roberto
Barcelona's president, Josep Maria Bartomeu also spoke highly of Roberto in a recent ceremony where the latter received the 'fair play' award from a group of club supporters. The president turned to Sergi Roberto and insisted him on playing to the end of his days as a player in the heart of Catalonia. Roberto and Bartomeu's board are reportedly discussing over a new deal.
"Roberto's commitment to the club and to his teammates, his humility, they're all things that we really value. He will always be linked to our club. He has to remain here for many more years. You (Roberto) have to retire at Barcelona because that would make us very happy." - Barcelona president Bartomeu
The midfielder is yet another result of Johan Cruyff's ideology of establishing a youth system in the city of Barcelona. Although he is a natural playmaker, Roberto's adaptability allows him to play in various positions, perfectly complementing Cruyff's ideology of Total Football. Roberto's game time was restricted as a right-back under Luis Enrique but seems like new manager Ernesto Valverde regards highly of the Spaniard's talents, and so is evident by the chances Sergi gets in the middle of the park. The 25-year-old is set to enjoy a lot of time in Barcelona, possibly even to the end of his career.
#4 Gerard Pique
Pique's future with the club never bother the fans provided the affection the Spaniard has for his boyhood club. Yet another product of the famed La Masia system, Pique has been linked with so much more than the sporting aspect of FC Barcelona. A symbol of the club's pride, the defender certainly goes a step too ahead to protect his club's identity and raises his voice against what he feels is wrong.
Seeming to have an immense pride everytime he puts on the traditional Blaugrana shirt, Gerard Pique is the figure a club like Barcelona demands. While most veteran players think about a managerial position after their playing career comes to an end, the centre-back has a different plan. A Harvard Graduate in Sports Management, Pique has cited his plans regarding running for the post of FC Barcelona's President in the near future, which also lead to him being nicknamed 'El Presidente'. Pique is a formidable dressing-room character and a leader on-and-off the pitch, filling in the shoes of the former defender and captain Carles Puyol.
The Spaniard has denied all talks of him leaving the club he has been representing all his life. Although Pique played for Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson for a brief period of time, it was with his boyhood club he really developed as a player and as a sporting figure. A defender Barcelona fans can always rely upon, Pique is now a part of a solid defensive duo with the youngster Samuel Umtiti. Javier Mascherano's imminent departure in the winter transfer window calls for more responsibilities on the shoulders of the La Masia man, and responsibilities are certainly what Pique thrives in handling.
Now 30 and in the peak of his career as a player, Pique is set to stay and excel at Barcelona for the rest of his playing time. The defender and the club are reportedly under discussions regarding an extension in the former's contract.
#5 Lionel Messi
The talismanic Argentine has been the central character in Barcelona for over a decade. Although an Argentine by birth, the forward has spent the majority of playing career in Barcelona, only drifting away for national duties with Argentina. Yet another graduate of the famed La Masia system, Messi has developed himself into the greatest player of all time. An unalienable fulcrum of the squad, the leader of the dressing room, the best player on the pitch, and a personality that everyone appreciates, La Pulga only recently penned down a new contract with his boyhood club, dismissing all rumours of a move to Manchester City.
While Pep Guardiola, former Barcelona Coach, current manager of Manchester City and Messi's mentor has insisted that the Argentine is destined to end his career for the Blaugrana, media reports suggested that Barcelona incompetence might force the little man to pack his bags and follow Guardiola to the blue side of Manchester. However, Ernesto Valverde's appointment in the summer, Neymar's big money move to Paris and a turbulent transfer window in the summer of 2017 threw all the pressure upon the man from Argentina. Barcelona has started the new season on a high, yet unbeaten.
"I have said this more than once. Messi will end his career at Barcelona." - Pep Guardiola
Leo Messi's former team-mates including the likes the Xavi and current Barcelona super-stars like Pique and Iniesta all insisted it is rather written for Messi to extend his contract with the Catalans, a lack of photographic evidence bothered the fans. However, to the joy of the fans, the club confirmed Messi signing a new deal with FCB, making his the world's highest-paid footballer with a buy-out clause of over a billion dollars and keeping his talents at the Camp Nou for at least 2021, and by that time he would be 34, considerably past the peak of his star-studded career.
A young Messi once stated that he would be more than happy to end his career at Barcelona if the circumstances allow him to but a return to Argentine football could also be on the cards when the Argentine reaches the end of his majestic career. However, all those linked with the Azulgrana are confident of keeping the little man from Rosario under their helm for as long as time permits.
