The stat that should provoke deep thought at Barcelona
Sergio Busquets was the only starter in the Spain XI that plays for the Catalan club
Luis Enrique’s new Spain side is a reality, and a harsh one for Barcelona. They have fed La Roja players in recent times but now only one Barca star started for Spain. Sergio Busquets.
Barcelona have slowly been disappearing from Spain squads in recent times. Eight players were representing Spain in 2010 and 2012 (Xavi, Iniesta, Valdes, Busquets, Puyol, Pique, Pedro and Villa, with Cesc in for Villa in 2012).
Those glorious times have gone. In the last 20 or so Spain squads, two years, on four occasions there has been just once Barcelona player starting.
Why are the players disappearing from the squad? Obviously the semi-retirements of Xavi and Iniesta are vital, with Pique quitting too.
While Lucho has axed Jordi Alba for the bad blood between them, the truth is Barcelona don’t have any players who deserve to be in the Spain 23 man squad, bar Busquets and Sergi Roberto.
That should be worrying for Barcelona and it doesn’t look likely to change.
