Busquets was never the most agile or quick player in the world but that never stopped him from being the best defensive midfielder for almost 1 decade for club and country. Mainly due to his amazing reading of the game, anticipation, ability to control the tempo of the game and possession, passing ability and accuracy etc.
However his legs are more or less completely gone and it is impossible to make up for that in 2019 regardless of how smart you are as a player. At least against opponents like Dortmund away from home. A shame but everything has its end.
Watching PSG-Real. Get me a DM like Idrissa Gueye, Kante light. This is the kind of DM we should go for in the future IMO, a workhorse who is fast enough with stamina and intensity to compensate for our offensive players. Funny Real started to win multiple CL's when they put Casemiro there.
We need to replace Busquest with a DM who loves the art of defending but at the same time has decent skills on the ball.
Shocking to realize that this Gueye guy is just 13 months younger than Busquets. Could have sworn that he was 13 years younger based on their respective recent performances.
Anyway Busquets was never fast nor very agile to begin with and let us not forget that Busquets is already a legend of the game and one of the most decorated players in football history for club and country. 650+ senior games for club and country take their toll as well. Lack of motivation to prove yourself and win trophies as well.
I would claim that the long-term replacement for Busquets is already in-house. De Jong ticks every box as a DM and adds so many other aspects to his game than the current version of Busquets.
We need to partner Arthur with a dynamic two-way midfielder that is a goalscoring threat (ideally), has the necessary stamina, great pressing abilities and who makes frequent runs into the box while not being a liability in the defensive game. A more vertical midfielder in other words.
My favorites so far are Fabián Ruiz and Havertz. Just afraid that Havertz might be too offensive. Ideally a player that is a combination of both of those 2 types of players. Not sure if such a player exists.