Iniesta: "This club deserves the best and I can't give it to them"

Iniesta: "This club deserves the best and I can't give it to them"

Iniesta, en el partido frente a la Roma de la ida de cuartos de final
Iniesta, en el partido frente a la Roma de la ida de cuartos de final | sport

Iniesta broke into tears as he confirmed his departure from Barça,

Andrés Iniesta broke down in tears as he announced that he is leaving Barcelona after 22 years in the club, 16 as a professional.

The Barçca captain was surrounded by club directors and the entire squad (only Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez were absent) when he gave the press conference, struggling to speak at first.

"Being honest with myself and with the club, which has given me everything, I understand that my time with the club has to finish this year," he said.

"I'll always be loyal to the club, which took me on when I was 12 years old and they deserve the best of me and in the near future I won't be able to give that, mentally or physically."

"It's a very difficult day for me, I've spent my whole life here and saying goodbye to the place which has been my home for so long is very difficult, but I understand how life works and that it gets harder every day. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I created an uncomfortable situation for a club which has given me everything. I don't deserve that and neither do the club."