'MAGICIAN, MAESTRO, UNTOUCHABLE'
Sporting icons laud Barcelona legend Iniesta ahead of emotional final outing
AFTER 32 trophies and over 600 appearances, the legendary Andres Iniesta will call time on his illustrious Barcelona career today following the Catalan club’s home game against Real Sociedad in La Liga.
Iniesta, who graduated from Barcelona’s renowned La Masia academy and has spent his entire career to date with the club, announced last month in a tearful press conference that he will leave the club at the end of the season.
Barcelona have been paying tribute to the club icon at an event entitled ‘Infinite Iniesta’, and called upon a host of famous sports stars to sum up the Spanish midfielder and the contribution that he has made to the club in a special video.
Many of Iniesta’s former teammates, including Xavi, Yaya Toure and Thierry Henry were among those to hail the midfield maestro, while Sergio Ramos, Gianluigi Buffon and Francesco Totti were also full of praise for his achievements.
Premier League stars such as Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne and Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin also had kind words to say about Iniesta, who will certainly be looked back upon as one of Barcelona’s greatest players of all time.
Each individual was asked to sum up Iniesta in one phrase, and their responses ranged from De Bruyne’s ‘magician’ to Henry’s ‘untouchable’. Tennis hero Rafael Nadal described Iniesta as ‘unique’.
Iniesta admitted that he is concerned ahead of his final game for Barcelona.
The 34-year-old told Spanish radio station RAC 1: ‘I’m nervous about Sunday, as I’ve already been telling some people. When they tell you the end is coming you get used to the idea, but when the moment approaches I’ll be nervous and my feelings will be even more raw.’
This season Iniesta has helped Barcelona to win the La Liga title and the Copa del Rey and, despite frequently being substituted in games to preserve his fitness, he has still made a significant contribution.
A hugely important figure in Barcelona’s recent successes, at his peak Iniesta was one of the standout players in world football given his vision and exemplary technique.
Iniesta has also enjoyed much success on the international stage, winning the World Cup and two European Championships with Spain, but now his long association with Barcelona is coming to an end.
He certainly won’t be forgotten in a hurry given the amount of praise he has received.