Iniesta exit deprives Barca of humble star
barcelona — Andres Iniesta means so much more to Barcelona than the 30-plus titles he helped add to its trophy case.
The Spaniard, who is leaving the club at the end of the season, was pure elegance with the ball, and a popular player off the field.
As Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu put it, “Andres is the son any father would love to have.”
Lionel Messi has been the driving force that made Barcelona into one of the best teams to ever play the game. But more than any player at the Camp Nou in the last 15 years, Iniesta provided the human element that made him exemplify Barcelona’s motto of being “more than a club.”
In an emotional news conference on Friday, Iniesta did not reveal what his next club will be, only saying it won’t be in Europe.
Iniesta, who turns 34 on May 11, decided it was time to go out on top after likely securing a domestic double.
Wearing Barcelona’s burgundy-and-blue, Iniesta scored in a 5-0 victory over Sevilla to claim a fourth consecutive Copa del Rey last weekend. That was his and Messi’s club record 31st title with Barcelona, and the team just needs to win one of its last five matches to clinch the Spanish league title.
Iniesta and Messi were rising talents on that team coached by Frank Rijkaard and featuring Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto’o.
Barcelona won the 2006 Champion League title, which started a golden era for Barcelona with Iniesta and Messi leading the way to three more Champions League titles and a collection of domestic trophies that displaced Real Madrid as Spain’s top team. —