• Premier League

Busquets wants 'powerful' Song at Barca

Dermot Corrigan
August 2, 2012
Alex Song has two years left on his contract at Arsenal © PA Photos
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Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets says he would welcome a move for Arsenal's Alex Song by the Catalan club.

Seydou Keita's departure for Chinese club Dalian Aerbin earlier this summer has left a gap in Barca's midfield, and Busquets believes Song, whose contract at Arsenal expires in 2014, could provide healthy competition for places.

"Song is a very good player - young, a hard worker, with lots of physical power," Busquets said. "[Barca B youngster] Sergi Roberto is very well prepared, but I think he is better as an 'interior'.

"Barca lose a lot without Keita, both on and off the pitch. He was a much-loved player who gave us a lot of physical power. Another player in my position would be welcome, but either way I will keep working hard to win a place in the starting team."

Busquets, back at training this week after helping Spain to victory in Euro 2012, said the transition of head coach from Pep Guardiola to Tito Vilanova had so far been seamless.

"Until now it has been the same, we have had four days training and they could have been four days when Pep was there," he said. "The physical coaches are taking training - there is no difference."

Barca's squad will be joined at training on Friday by Jordi Alba, Cristian Tello and Martin Montoya, who have returned sooner than expected from the London 2012 Olympics.

Busquets said Spain's struggles at the Games - no goals and just one point from three group games - showed how difficult tournament football could be.

"It is very difficult to win. They are a good team, but small details decided the first two games," he said. "In such short tournaments, you cannot let those things happen."

Barcelona's pre-season preparation continues this Saturday with a glamour friendly against big-spending Paris St-Germain. Busquets said he expected the Ligue 1 team to be a threat to Europe's big clubs in the coming season.

"Their new players like [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic and Thiago [Silva] will need to settle in, but player for player they are a team to take into account for the Champions League," he added.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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