Is this really Sergio Busquets’ final season in professional football?

Inter Miami is hours away from facing the main objective of the season: qualifying for the MLS playoffs after beating New York City FC at Citi Field.

Despite not having Luis Suarez available, the last game of his suspension, Javier Mascherano figured out the problem and found the ideal team formation.

The 4-4-2 with Jordi Alba as a winger and Noah Allen as a left back is paying off. Miami has more control on defense and more power on its offense.

However, Mascherano needs to figure out the team for next season quickly, as one of his starting players is set to retire.

Is it true that Sergio Busquets will leave the sport at the end of the season?

The legendary Spanish midfielder thought about retiring from soccer after this season. However, this is not entirely true. See, there are two versions of the story, and only one of them can confirm a thing.

Let’s start from the beginning. Numerous sports programs and newspapers have reported that Sergio Busquets’ decision not to renew his contract with Inter Miami signals that this could be his final season in professional football.

According to Nacho García, sports journalist of Tiempo de Juego at Cadena COPE: “When this season ends, in November or December, depending on how far Inter Miami goes in the playoffs, Sergio Busquets will hang up his boots, the decision has already been made.”

The same reporter also noted that Busquets plans to announce his retirement with a video, similar to the one he released when he officially left FC Barcelona.

Based on Nacho García’s statement, the career of the 2010 World Cup winner will continue for as long as Inter Miami remains in the competition this season. That’s why it's also important that the Herons qualify for the playoffs, so we can continue watching Busquets playing.

Nevertheless, Javier Mascherano, in a recent interview, said that there is nothing official and that Busquets is completely focused on the remainder of the season, and that his team doesn’t work on speculations.

The departure of Sergio Busquets will leave a big hole in the Herons' midfield, but that’s where the loan of Rodrigo De Paul comes in handy.

It is true that, according to rumours, the decision of the Spanish legend could be due to a lack of interest in renewing his contract.

In order for Las Garzas to sign Rodri De Paul, they need to free a DP spot. Knowing that Busquets’ contract expires at the end of the season, the institution has no intention of keeping him for another season.

So we will have to wait to see how this matter is resolved.