Barcelona battle Milan for €30m Busquets replacement

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 26 Jun 2023 06:50 BST
• 3 min read

Barcelona have identified Benfica's Florentino Luis as a potential replacement for Sergio Busquets, but they face a competition from AC Milan for the €30 million-rated midfielder's signature.

Busquets will bring the curtain down on 15 glittering seasons in Barcelona's first team this summer, joining Lionel Messi at David Beckham's Inter Miami on expiry of his contract at the end of the month.

A unique proposition in midfield, Busquets leaves big boots to fill, but Barca have reportedly identified a candidate in Florentino who, like Busquets, is an asset on both sides of the ball.

READ: Messi, Busquets and? Inter Miami boss teases stunning TRIPLE transfer

The Portugal under-21 international averaged three tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes in the Primeira Liga last season, but also completed 90 per cent of his passes, of which seven per game were progressive.

"[Barcelona's] new sporting director Deco has been working to intensively to find a solution and has identified two names as feasible: Joao Palhinha (Fulham) and Florentino Luis (Benfica), two 'pivots' who have shown a great level and could fit at Barca," report Sport.

Florentino is valued at €30.6 million by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm, though it is understood Benfica would accept €30 to part ways with their nascent star.

READ: Florentino's FootbalTransfers profile

Competition from Milan

That might prove a relative bargain, but Barca are not in the best position to fund it having been told by La Liga to reduce their debt by €200m if they want to take part in a competition they recently won for the 27th time next season.

And Milan are ready to swoop in. The Rossoneri are looking for a replacement for Sandro Tonali, who will complete an Italian record €70m move to Newcastle in the coming days, and having received such a fee for their midfielder, have significant budget to sign his heir.

"The Rossoneri also have to deal with [Ismael] Bennacer's long-term injury," reports Sky Italia's Gianluca Di Marzio. "And Florentino Luis has emerged as a target."

The race is on, and there is no guarantee that Barcelona will win it.