Tuesday 27 December 2016 08:03, UK
Sergio Busquets feels Barcelona have no need to replace Yaya Toure as they already have quality cover.
Sergio Busquets feels Barcelona have no need to replace Yaya Toure as they already have quality cover.
The sale of Ivorian enforcer Toure to Manchester City has left the Catalan giants short of defensive midfield options.
Pep Guardiola has plenty of guile at his disposal in the middle of the park, but appears to be lacking in graft.
That has led to reports that Barca could be set to reignite their interest in Liverpool's Argentina international Javier Mascherano.
Busquets, though, claims the reigning Primera Liga champions should keep with those already on their books, with plenty of players capable of filling a holding role.
"The fact that Toure has left does not mean anything because there are other team-mates who can play in his position, like (Seydou) Keita, or even Xavi or (Andres) Iniesta," said the World Cup winner.
Busquets also believes that the crop of talented youngsters coming through the Camp Nou academy ranks should be given an opportunity to stake a claim for a regular place in the side before fresh faces are drafted in.
"There are a lot of players coming up from the youth team like (Oriol) Romeu and Jonathan dos Santos, and I believe we have the position well covered," he said.
Romeu and Dos Santos underlined their considerable potential with star showings in Barca's 3-1 defeat to Sevilla in the first leg of the Spanish Supercup on Saturday, and Busquets is confident they have plenty to offer this season.
He said: "Romeu is a physical and very powerful player. He is good in the air and he's very complete - in that sense he is more like me - while Jonathan is a little bit more attacking, more about controlling the ball, more similar to Xavi and Iniesta."
