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Former Barcelona midfielder and club legend legend, Andres Iniesta, has officially announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 40.
After a remarkable career spanning more than two decades, Iniesta has decided to hang up his boots. His retirement announcement was made on Tuesday, 8 October, a symbolic date as it represents the number eight shirt he wore during his illustrious career.
In a ceremony held in Barcelona, 450 guests attended to bid farewell to Iniesta. Key figures from the football world, such as FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta, Deco, and former teammates Gerard Pique, Sergi Roberto, Sergi Samper, and Marc Bartra were present.
Current Barcelona players like Ansu Fati, Ronald Araujo, and Dani Olmo were also there, alongside coach Hansi Flick, to honour Iniesta’s contribution to the club and football.
“I never thought this day would come, but these are tears of excitement and pride, not of sadness.
“These are tears of the kid from Fuentealbilla who dreamed of being a footballer, and I did it; we did it. I feel very proud of this journey,” he began by saying.
Iniesta spoke about his journey from his early days at La Masia, Barcelona’s famed academy, to becoming one of the club’s all-time greats.
“La Masia changed me forever. It is the place where I could be best to promote the values that must be had in life. And grateful to all the people, teachers, and classmates. It is a stage that undoubtedly marked our lives.
“Coming to Barça was a dream, and I focused on making it happen. That effort, at 12 years old coming to Barcelona with all that it meant, could not divert my focus from what I had.
“I arrived at the best place to realize the dreams that lay ahead of me,” he added.
Reflecting on his time at Barcelona
Iniesta says Barcelona changed his life. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Reflecting on his time at the club, Iniesta expressed his…
Source link : https://barcauniversal.com/would-like-to-return-one-day-andres-iniesta-remembers-barcelona-in-retirement-speech/
Author : Swapnil Bhopatkar
Publish date : 2024-10-08 11:46:25
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