Barcelona to say farewell to Andres Iniesta at end of the season

The midfielder confirms he is leaving the Primera Liga club after 22 years in summer

An emotional Andres Iniesta confirmed on Friday he will depart Barcelona at the end of the season. Enric Fontcuberta / EPA

Andres Iniesta has confirmed he will leave Barcelona at the end of the season after 22 years associated with the club.

In a press conference attended by members of the first team and the club's board on Friday, Iniesta said he wanted to finish at Barca "feeling useful, feeling important and still winning titles".

Iniesta is expected to continue his career in China but says his next move is yet to be finalised. The 33-year-old reiterated, however, he would never play against Barcelona.

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Barcelona star Andres Iniesta says 'emotional' final may be his last for Catalan club

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After joining Barca's academy, La Masia, aged 12, Iniesta blossomed into one of the Catalans' greatest ever players, winning four Champions League and eight Primera Liga titles, and lifting the World Cup with Spain.

Struggling to hold back the tears, Iniesta said: "I understand that in the near future I will not be able to give the best of myself in all senses, both physically and mentally.

"If I had imagined finishing my career here, it would have been like this, feeling useful, feeling important and still winning titles.

"It's a very difficult day for me because I've been here all my life and to say goodbye to my home and my life here is very hard."