“We have very good impressions of Qatar, they are developing sports a lot, in particular football, and that is very positive,” Busquets said.
“I have great feedback from a former teammate and great friend in Xavi. I had the opportunity to come here to play against Uruguay a few years ago. Now they have advanced even more, they are doing it with a lot of passion, preparing well, so I think it will be a great event.”
With Xavi playing for Al Sadd Club in Doha, Busquets said he agreed with his old captain’s assessment that Qatar could host the ‘greatest ever’ World Cup.
“If someone understands football and mega events, it is Xavi. And if he says that it will be the greatest World Cup, it is for a reason,” he said. “There are still some years remaining, but they are doing projects and planning in a very good way, always improving and it will for sure be a great World Cup.”
The midfielder – widely regarded as one of the finest products of FC Barcelona’s famed La Masia youth academy – also had some words of advice for youngsters, from Barcelona to Doha and beyond, attempting to make the breakthrough into first team action.
“It is difficult to be in the first team, the demands are incredibly high at every level, it depends on a lot of factors, not only whether players are coming through from the academy. It depends if they are given opportunities, that they work well, that the players have the level required, all of this has to come together, so I hope more players from La Masia can make the breakthrough.”
Since graduating from the youth academy and coming into the first team under Pep Guardiola, the 28-year-old from Sabadell in Barcelona has made his name as one of the game’s finest defensive midfielders.
When asked about his five favourite players in the same position, Busquets also selected one from his club’s eternal rivals: “There are great midfielders in world football, and each one with their own style. No two players are the same. In my position I would mention Casemiro, who is doing very well, Bruno plays very well in Villarreal, Chelsea have played a great season with Kante and Matic. A lot of players, Ander Herrera at Manchester United as well, but it would be difficult to choose only five because every player is different.”
With another major international tournament less than a year away, Busquets also looked ahead to the upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia with great excitement at the prospect of another new era for Spain.
“The change of coach for now is working very well for us,” he said. “They are similar ideas, but at the same time with his touch and a different vision. We have the World Cup coming up, and we hope that the outcome will be positive. When you have a World Cup or European Championships coming up, you’re always waiting for that and trying to qualify, and the beautiful thing is the tournament at the end.”
He continued: “First of all we have to qualify because we have a difficult group and are fighting with Italy to make it. Hopefully we can go through in first place, and once we are qualified, we will analyse everything.
“In terms of players, teams, we will be one of the favourites despite not playing well in the last two tournaments. In the end it will be the teams of almost always, Germany, Argentina, who can be in the fight for the title in Russia.”
With FIFA World Cup holders Germany having taken the title at the recently-concluded Confederations Cup, Busquets said the strength in depth of Joachim Loew’s side was clear to see.
“The Confederations Cup is a different tournament from the World Cup, and Germany played with a team which could be different in the World Cup, but it shows that they have very good players, a good depth in their squad, and big potential.”
Before signing off, the player who was a key member in bringing Spain their first ever FIFA World Cup said he would not rule out playing in the tournament in Qatar in 2022.
“There are still five years left,” he said. “I don’t know how I will be physically at that time, but it would definitely be something that I’d love to do.
“To play here in Qatar one day, like Xavi, is another option.” (SC.qa)