Sergio Busquets has become the most talked-about prospect within the Barcelona camp lately as the club desperately look to try and convince the veteran midfielder to prolong his stay at Camp Nou.
Not long ago, it was reported that Busquets had his heart set on a move to the United States at the end of the season, following the expiry of his contract. But it appears the midfielder is reconsidering his decision and could be open to an extension with Barcelona.
Amid all this, a recent report from Mundo Deportivo has revealed that Barça had an an agreement with Busquets in August, over a contract extension until 2025.
In the contract, the club had proposed a deal that would see them distribute all the deferred payments during the period of the contract. It was a deal Busquets looked at quite favourably and might even have agreed to.
However, that is when La Liga stepped in. The Spanish footballing authority, notorious for its stringent financial rules and regulations for clubs within its ambit, was not happy with a certain clause in the contract that allowed Busquets to break away from the deal at any time and join an inferior league such as the Major League Soccer.
As a result, the two parties were not able to finalise the agreement and Barcelona had to put an early stop to their efforts.
But with the Catalans once again keen on holding talks with Busquets over a contract extension, it remains to be seen whether or not they will bring out a similar proposal.
Given that the midfielder may not want to prolong his stay at the club until 2025, it might get tricky for Barça to complete deferred payments in a period of just over 18 months.