Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta announces retirement date; it shares special connection with his career
Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta will announce his retirement on October 8, according to Relevo. The Spaniard is arguably one of the finest midfielders of his generation and a Camp Nou legend.
The 40-year-old's contract with UAE side Emirates Club expired in July this year and he hasn't signed with a new team yet. He recently shared a video on social media showing him painting his own mural. He added the following caption:
"COMING SOON. 8, 10, 24."
Interestingly, the date is synonymous with the shirt number the Spaniard wore for almost his entire career. The post sparked rumors of his possible retirement and it is now believed that he will hang up his boots next week.
Iniesta rose through the ranks at Camp Nou, breaking into the first team in 2002. He initially wore the 34 shirt before switching to 24 the following season.
When Ludovic Giuly left the Catalans to join AS Roma in the summer of 2007, the No. 8 shirt was handed to the Spaniard. The rest, as they say, is history.
By then, the midfielder was an established figure under Frank Rijkaard. El Ilusionista would become an integral part of Barcelona's success, winning countless trophies and establishing himself as one of the finest in the world. He was also crucial to La Roja's 2010 World Cup triumph, lighting up the tournament with his mesmerizing skills and even scoring in the final.
Is Andres Iniesta one of Barcelona's greatest players ever?
Barcelona's fabled academy has churned up some world-class talents over the years. While Lionel Messi is undoubtedly the Catalans' greatest-ever player, it won't be wrong to say that Andres Iniesta is also one of their finest sons.
The player is arguably one of the best players not to win the fabled Ballon d'Or, simply because he played in the Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo era. The Spaniard's fabled partnership with Xavi in the middle of the park was the stuff of nightmares for the opposition.
By the time he left Camp Nou in 2018, the Spaniard had amassed 37 trophies with the Catalans. He is Barcelona's second-most decorated player after Lionel Messi and has 57 goals and 137 assists from 674 games for the La Liga giants.
The La Masia production house continues to churn up world beaters. The likes of Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, Gavi and Marc Bernal are already expected to dominate football in the coming years.
However, Barcelona fans will feel that there will never be another like Andres Iniesta.