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The expected addition of former FC Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets became official Sunday when Inter Miami announced they have signed the 35-year-old Spaniard to a deal through the 2025 season.

Busquets is a close friend and former teammate of international star Lionel Messi. Inter Miami officially announced Messi’s long-awaited signing on Saturday.

Inter Miami scheduled an “Unveil” ceremony for Sunday evening at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale to publicly introduce the duo but it was delayed by torrential rain and heavy lightning.

Busquets and Messi were teammates with Barcelona for 15 seasons.

“I am excited to welcome Sergio Busquets to Inter Miami,” managing owner Jorge Mas said in a news release. “Since day one we have set out to bring the world’s best players. Sergio’s repertoire speaks for itself.”

Busquets was a member of Spain’s World Cup-winning squad in 2010 and earned 143 international caps. He retired from international play following the 2022 World Cup.

His contract with Barcelona was not renewed this season, which opened up an opportunity to join Messi with the Herons.

“This is a special and exciting opportunity that I’m very excited to take. I’m looking forward to this next step in my career with Inter Miami,” Busquets said in a press release.

“I was impressed by the club when I came with Barcelona last year and now I’m happy and ready to represent the club myself. I can’t wait to help bring the success that this ambitious club strives for.”

Busquets also has a solid relationship with recently hired Inter Miami coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino, the former head man at Barcelona (2013-14) who also had a solid bond with Messi.

“We’re very happy to bring somebody of Sergio’s pedigree to Inter Miami,” sporting director Chris Henderson said in a news release. “He is one of the smartest players to ever play the sport; he reads the game at an unprecedented level and impacts every facet of play.

“Sergio is a winner, a leader and a world-class talent, and we’re excited to see him represent our franchise.”

Inter Miami is experiencing a tough MLS campaign and has the worst record (5-14-3, 18 points) in the 29-team league. The Herons are winless in their past 11 MLS matches (0-8-3) and haven’t won since a 2-1 home win over the New England Revolution on May 13.

–Field Level Media