The 23-year old reveals he is finding it difficult to befriend some members of the Roja squad.
Real Madrid and Barcelona’s rivalry is one of the oldest and the fiercest in European football. Sergio Busquets, who is preparing to face Italy in his side’s opening fixture of the 2012 European Championship, is no stranger to
this rivalry.
The midfielder has been at the centre of many clashes and controversies between the two sides. A few days earlier Barcelona legend Johan Cruyff made a claim that Jose Mourinho has created a huge divide in the Spanish squad. This
divide will work against the Iberian side and will affect their performance in the tournament.
The Portuguese tactician has been accused by many experts of playing up the rivalry to his team’s advantage; he turned a lot of Spanish players against each other. As a result, the Blaugrana midfielder admits that he is struggling
to get along with players of Los Blancos contingent in the Spanish squad.
"It is difficult to have a friendship with someone who is not [of] your club that you do not look at all year,” he is quoted as saying in an interview.
However the Spanish midfielder makes it clear that he will not let the domestic rivalry undermine his sides bid to retain their European title.
"True, there were moments that were not so good, but now everything is normal. We're the same team, fighting for the same and everything is perfect. We are partners,” he added.
Busquets is likely to start for Vicente Del Bosque’s side against Italy as they kick off their European campaign. He insists all the differences will be put aside and players from all the clubs will unite to become a single unit
when they face Italy.
Apart from rifts in the squad, the Roja squad has been rocked by injuries to their star striker David Villa and the rock in defence Carles Puyol.
Bookies remain disputed on whether Spain will successfully defend their European crown or will Germany edge them to avenge the loss they suffered at the hands of La Roja in the 2008 Final.
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