Barcelona president Joan Laporta has paid tribute to departing captain Sergi Busquets.

It was announced this morning that Busquets will leave Barca at the end of the season.

Laporta said: "He is an exemplary person, an exceptional player who comes from La Masia. He is the third player with the most games in history, more than 700. He has been defending the colours of Barça for 15 years, defending our badge and is one of those players of the sextet team.

"In addition, he is a player who has already accumulated 31 titles and I hope he will soon get the 32nd. Sergio Busquets is excellent as a person, a reference captain. A great captain of Barça. He is an exemplary person who is part of our shield.

"We talked about it when he told me the decision he had made. Sergio is part of our crest and will always have Barça as his home. He will have a long journey, I'm sure, within FC Barcelona. He comes from family, he is the son of Carles Busquets, player of the Dream Team.

"In this sense, he said it in the video, Sergio is a culé by roots and Barça is in his blood."