Emotional Andres Iniesta Confirms Barca Exit

The Spaniard has been in the Barcelona youth system since he was 12 years old. He made his first-team debut during the 2002-03 season. Since then, he has never looked back and a glittering career has followed.

“It’s a very difficult day for me, to be here saying goodbye when I’ve spent my whole life here at Barcelona,” he said.

“A great deal of who I am, is down to Barca and La Masia – I am very thankful to them.”

The Spain international will end his career with another league title. Barcelona won the Copa del Rey with a 5-0 thrashing over Sevilla last week. If they win against Deportivo on Sunday, they will be crowned La Liga champions for the ninth time in Iniesta’s career.

The 33-year-old lost an opportunity to add a fifth Champions League crown when AS Roma eliminated Barcelona in the quarter-finals.

Iniesta’s post Camp Nou plans remain to be seen but he will likely reveal them in due course. He has been linked to a move to China, but the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal and Manchester City have had their eye on the defender.