FC Barcelona announced on Monday that the club has extended the contract of young midfielder Sergi Busquets until the end of June 2013.

The 20-year-old Busquets, who is the son of a former Barcelona goalkeeper Carlos Busquets, has broken into the Barca first team this season following the appointment of Pep Guardiola as first team coach.

Last year Busquets worked with Guardiola in the Barcelona "B" team and the confidence Guardiola has shown in him has been vital in the youngster's progress.

So far Busquets has made 11 appearances in the Primera Liga and a further four in the Champions League.

"I am very happy: it is what I have always dreamed of. Everything has happened very quickly, last season I was playing in the Third Division and this year I did the pre-season with the first team."

"The coach has given me time on the pitch and I have tried to take advantage of it," Busquets told the official Barcelona website.

(Xinhua News Agency December 23, 2008)