The midfielder who has gone on to win six La Liga titles and three Champions League crowns with Barcelona, not to mention a European Championship triumph and World Cup win with Spain, was spotted by Madrid’s Catalunya-based scout Manuel Romero while still unattached.
The capital outfit was keen to bring in a player of considerable promise, but its interest in Busquets drew a rapid response from Barca, which moved to ensure that a homegrown talent was not allowed to slip through its net.
He was not the only promising midfielder Real had its eye on either, with Romero revealing that Sergi Roberto was also targeted before opting to remain closer to home.
“I invited Busquets to train with Madrid for a week, but after seeing our fax, Barcelona signed him,” Romero told Cadena SER.
“Roberto was practically closed for Madrid after I had spoken with his parents when he was at Nastic’s youth team.”
