ANDRES INIESTA WISHES his Barcelona dream was “eternal” but says he made the most “honest” decision for the club by deciding to leave after celebrating a ninth La Liga title.
Barca captain Iniesta took his combined career tally of major honours for the Catalan giants and Spain to 35 as Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick in a thrilling 4-2 win at Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday to ensure they cannot be caught in the top flight.
It capped an emotional nine days for Iniesta, who scored in the 5-0 Copa del Rey final demolition of Sevilla last weekend before announcing on Friday that this season would be his last with Barca, ending a 22-year association.
And Iniesta was in a reflective mood when speaking to Movistar after the Depor match, saying: “I’m making the most honest decision for me and for my club.
“I want to finish with good feelings, then go to the World Cup and now to another adventure.
“I wish this was eternal. I’m the first one who would like this not to end but all this has its beginning and its end.”
Iniesta’s announcement led to tributes throughout the world of football for a remarkable Barca career, including from Real Madrid legends Sergio Ramos, Iker Casillas and Zinedine Zidane.
He was also afforded a warm reception from the Riazor crowd when making a late cameo against Depor, who were relegated following the defeat.
“They are really indescribable sensations on a personal level and as an athlete,” he added.
“There are no words when you get so much love from people. And more in difficult situations like these. The gratitude to the people is eternal.”
Congratulations Bulgaria on avoiding the drop.
@Rian O’Sullivan: game has just started mellonhead
@Rian O’Sullivan: Aged so well
@Rian O’Sullivan: your silence is deafening
@Rian O’Sullivan: you bell end
@Joe Beirne: Bulgaria will be through 100%
@anthony davoren: Easy win for Bulgaria 2nd leg
@Rian O’Sullivan: alright Jose, you’re some useless fkr
@Rian O’Sullivan: Ye sad sack o’ shyte
@Rian O’Sullivan: Congratulations to you on never being in competition with Nostradamus. Your predictions are, for some reason, designed to get attention. Well you have it now. It ain’t good attention. You look like someone that needs some help to be honest.
@Rian O’Sullivan: Rian ‘Traitor O Sullivan’
I love how Didi Hamman keeps calling Ireland “we” lol
C’MON IRELAND
@Lance Taylor: stop talking to yourself man, it’s embarrassing.
@Eoin Jackson: its ray talking to himself again
Well Well Well na sayer’s what a goal by finn now in the lead come on lad’s
@SEAN: The misery from them is unbelievable. Sean. It makes you wonder what their story is.
@Louis Jacob: And all the likes their getting unreal same with the rugby
@SEAN: yep, ten times the likes over any other post … Bots at work
All the journal guys showing up
@Chutes Idiot: Good one, enjoyed that.
@Chutes Idiot: sport fan’s ray not guys who come on once everyweek
@Lance Taylor: WGAF
@Lance Taylor: who is likeing your comment how weird
@Chutes Idiot: ya know the laws of the mind? What’s unhealed in one’s mind is projected onto another, so I’m guessing you’ve just held up a mirror for yourself with those questions
@Chutes Idiot: whos liking all your comments unreal is there bots on here now
Tod Flanders on commentary surely someone else.
@Rian o Sullivan. F*** U.
Is anyone watching” Resident Alien” on netflix? Have you noticed the remarkable similarity between the alien and Heimer?
Is it me or is there a lack in Cullen
@DonalDollery: lack of what?
@Donal O’Brien an ability to play In midfield
They are a very poor Ireland side. Probably the worst I have seen
@John Hally: 2 1 up so nope
@John Hally: we are a better team than 2/3 years ago. Admittedly a low bar
Ah well
Please take Mike’s Johnson off
@DonalDollery: yeah he’s not good enough, can sometimes make an impact from the bench. luckily when ogbene and ebosele are back he will not be near the starting lineup
@DonalDollery: thought he was doing OK
No matter how shit your team is we ll make you look good.
@Gerard Lynch: we are winning 2-1 Gerard…
@Eoin Jackson: it was 1-0 to Bulgaria when I posted that. And while it’s nice we are winning 2-1 Bulgaria are crap. And we ain’t much better. And I still stand by my comment.
@Gerard Lynch: we’re winning away from home. Try and wash the vinegar from your mouth. It isn’t 1990 anymore
@anthony davoren: why should I. I ve been following Ireland since the 70s. It’s my bleeding opinion and I m entitled to it.
@Gerard Lynch: while I agree with you this Irish team are no world beaters, far from it. I struggle to agree with the comment that we’ve made this Bulgaria team look good. At no point tonight have I thought Bulgaria have looked good. One lucky goal. Now we have been shocking for large part ourselves. But there is clearly a better side on the pitch tonight. And it’s not Bulgaria.
@Gerard Lynch: calm down jarry
@Gerard Lynch: ok boomer.
@Eoin Jackson: we were shit. Norn iron bet them 5-0.
@Joe Beirne: piss off jolene.
@Anthony Curran: ok snowflake
@Gerard Lynch: ohh what an original retort…. Who do you think we are? We are a small nation doing our best to improve our football team. You’re banging on like we should be competing with frggn Argentina!
One has made their contribution
This is the worstirish tea I’ve ever seen n
@DonalDollery: what tea you drinking? Can’t be Barrys anyway.
@Eoin Jackson: that tetleys is dirt
@Eoin Jackson: it’s not green either
@DonalDollery: try drinking it instead of watching it