Barcelona: Sergio Busquets admits English desire ahead of Manchester City Champions League test

Sergio Busquets has given cause for optimism to several potential suitors who may be hoping to entice him away from La Liga after the Barcelona midfielder admitted he would like to experience English football in the future.

Speaking ahead of his side's eagerly anticipated Champions League last 16 first-leg tie against Manchester City, Busquets praised the style of football on offer in the Premier League and, while he stopped short of confirming he would definitely play for an English club during his career, he is clearly open to the potential and excited about the opportunities such a transfer could bring.

"I envy everything. I admire the Premier League for the quality and style of football. Maybe after years playing the same style you tire of it and football there is very different," Busquets told Sid Lowe as part of a wide-ranging interview featured in The Guardian.

"Stadiums are full, pitches are good, the press is different, people are different, the football culture is different. Everyone talks highly of England and I'd like to experience it one day. You see more space, more opportunity to enjoy your football. It's more physical, more intense, but I think I'd be comfortable.

"I can't say I'll definitely play there because things change and I've always said I want to stay here for many years, but I'd like the experience."

Busquets has played more than 200 games for Barcelona

Spaniard Busquets is part of the furniture at the Nou Camp. Having joined the club's celebrated youth setup in 2005, the 26-year-old has progressed steadily through the ranks and can now boast over 200 appearances for Barcelona as well as 74 senior international caps.

While many supporters may find it almost impossible to comprehend the possibility of the influential World Cup winner plying his trade anywhere else, Busquets has been linked with several of the Premier League's biggest hitters during recent transfer windows and having already been involved in four successful La Liga title campaigns, it could just be that a fresh challenge with a similarly reputable club could provide the perfect motivation moving forward.

For now, however, the player must focus solely upon the trip to the Etihad Stadium on 24 February and ensuring Barcelona are able to achieve a positive result in Manchester for the second year in succession.

Second half-goals from the irrepressible Lionel Messi and attacking full-back Daniel Alves were enough to give Barcelona a comfortable 2-0 victory against Manuel Pellegrini's side at the same venue in 2014 after defender Martin Demichelis had been dismissed for an ill-advised challenge in the penalty area.

City, who were also reduced to 10 men in the second leg, eventually lost 4-1 on aggregate and will surely be desperate to give their experienced opponents a sterner test of their credentials this time around and progress through to the quarter-finals of the competition for the very first time.

Barcelona had been in fine fettle with a run of 11 consecutive victories prior to their recent disappointing home defeat to Malaga and manager Luis Enrique has very few injury worries to contend with ahead of the match.

Manchester City, meanwhile, are set to welcome back James Milner after the England midfielder missed the 5-0 demolition of former club Newcastle United with a knee injury. Yaya Toure will play no part due to a suspension that results from the red card he received against CSKA Moscow in the group stage.