Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta on Friday confirmed he would be leaving the club after a glorious 22-year spell and Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand took to Instagram to post a glowing tribute to the Spanish midfielder.
The two went head-to-head in two UEFA Champions League finals (2009 and 2011), with Barcelona trumping United on both occasions and Iniesta was the fulcrum of that dominant Blaugrana side.
Ferdinand, who is now a analyst for BT Sport, hung up his boots in 2015 but clearly holds Iniesta in high regard, as does the rest of the footballing community.
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The 33-year-old Iniesta is not retiring from professional football, he confirmed on Friday, but did not reveal his next club save that it won’t be an European one.
Interest from the Chinese Super League and the Major League Soccer has intensified in recent weeks as speculation mounted on the diminutive midfielder’s future and he is likely to end up either in China or America.
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A graduate of Barcelona’s famed La Masia Academy, Iniesta’s time with the Catalan giants coincided with arguably the best period in the club’s history.
Along with fellow Spaniard Xavi Hernandez, Iniesta formed what many regard as the best-ever central midfield partnership as the La Liga outfit dominated European football in an unforeseen manner.
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In his final season at the club, Iniesta has already wrapped up the Copa del Rey and with Barcelona on the verge of a 25th La Liga title, is set walk away into a glorious sunset.