Sergio Busquets has begun a path back to Barcelona in a coaching capacity, returning to the club’s famed academy set‐up just seven months after ending his playing career – in a move that could significantly benefit Egyptian youth forward Hamza Abdelkarim.
The former Spain and Barca midfielder has re-entered the club’s inner circle at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper training complex, where he is starting a hands‐on training and observation spell with the Barcelona Atletic coaching staff, according to Spanish newspaper Marca.
Although his position has not yet been formalised and remains under evaluation, Busquets’ objective is clear: to gain daily, practical experience of life on the touchline inside the club where he spent virtually his entire senior career.
He is expected to shadow the technical team at Barca’s reserve side – which includes Abdelkarim among its attacking options – as he studies training methodology, dressing‐room management and tactical development from close range.
Learning the trade before taking the reins
Busquets, 36, does not yet hold the full coaching licence required to take charge of a first team and is treating this as the first step in a longer journey into management.
He believes that the optimal setting in which to start that journey is the same sporting ecosystem that shaped him as a player: La Masia and Barcelona’s training base, where he rose from youth ranks to become one of the defining midfielders of his generation.
By embedding himself with Barcelona Atletic, Busquets will be able to observe how sessions are planned, how tactical instructions are communicated, and how a dressing room of young hopefuls is handled over the course of a demanding season.
The club, in turn, is opening the doors of its academy once more to one of its most decorated products, in the hope that his understanding of Barcelona’s positional play and game intelligence can be transmitted to the next generation.
From MLS title to the training ground
Busquets’ move back into the Barcelona fold comes shortly after the official end of his playing days.
He announced his retirement from professional football in December, having concluded his on‐field career with an MLS Cup triumph at Inter Miami, alongside former Barca team‐mates Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba. That US title added a final chapter to a medal‐laden career in which he won every major honour available with both Barcelona and the Spanish national team, including the World Cup and the Champions League.
Just days before starting his new project, Busquets was in New Jersey, where he watched Spain defeat Argentina in the World Cup final thanks to an extra‐time goal from Ferran Torres. He travelled back to Barcelona immediately afterwards to begin his transition into full‐time coaching work.
Major boost for Abdelkarim and Barca prospects
Within Barcelona Atletic, Busquets’ presence is expected to provide both a technical and psychological lift, particularly for young talents such as Egyptian forward Hamza Abdelkarim.
The 19‐year‐old will now have the chance to train under the daily eye of a player widely considered one of the finest holding midfielders in football history. Abdelkarim and his team‐mates are set to benefit from Busquets’ expertise in positioning, reading of the game and tactical structures – all hallmarks of Barcelona’s style during their peak years.
While no official announcement has yet confirmed a permanent coaching role, the arrangement is viewed inside the club as a significant first stride towards Busquets eventually taking on greater responsibility on the bench.
For Barcelona, it marks the latest example of a modern great returning home; for Busquets, it is the beginning of a new chapter in familiar surroundings – and for Abdelkarim, it could prove a pivotal opportunity to learn from a master at close quarters.
