Out of all the eye-catching transfer rumours, here is one that will make you cringe – Andres Iniesta to Manchester City. It might not be the farthest of possibilities with Pep Guardiola holding the reigns at the Etihad but even the most optimistic City fan will agree with me that it just that – a rumour.
Iniesta is 33 and just a short 5 months back, signed a ‘lifetime’ contract with Barcelona to end all sorts of speculation over his future. After agreeing to the new deal, the Spanish international said, “Everyone can understand that someone who is 33 might start to consider things but I never thought, ‘I’m leaving,’ it was more a question of weighing things up. This is an indescribable sensation, to come here as a 12-year-old and still be here at 33 and to think back on everything that has happened gives me goosebumps. I have so much sentiment and love for this club, this is my home, the best place I could hope to be.”
It is no secret that Pep along with the rest of the football world will always be fond of the attacking midfielder whose career has been splashed with major honours in every single competition. Iniesta and Lionel Messi are currently the most successful players in Barcelona’s history with over 30 titles under their belt.
But it is not just the honours that will be mentioned when Iniesta announces his retirement from professional football. His sublime touch paired with remarkable footballing intelligence makes him one of the best players the world has ever witnessed.
A 5 feet 7 inches figure packs a lot of punch in terms of creativity and offensive quality. When given the ball it is a headache to get him off it and when on his day, almost impossible to stop.
One could say that his talents are almost irreplaceable in the Camp Nou ranks and before the arrival of Philippe Coutinho that could have been ruled to be true. However, the only reason Coutinho has been brought in is to succeed the 33-year-old in the middle of the park.
The Brazilian is slowly adjusting to life at Barcelona and that is starting to hinder Iniesta’s involvement in day-to-day activities. However, is that enough to spark a conversation about a possible exit?
And how exactly do you approach a club for a player whose services are tied down forever? It would be ludicrous for City to splash an astronomical amount for a player who is facing the last stages of his career.
Iniesta has been with Barcelona ever since he was a boy and has led an illustrious career laden with silverware. It is his wish to finish his journey with the Catalan giants and continue making an impact for the remainder of his playing days.
