Former Barcelona midfielder Xavi has penned an emotional letter to departing club great Andres Iniesta, labeling him the best player in Spain’s history.
The 34-year-old brought the curtain down on his glittering career against Real Sociedad at the Nou Camp before he moves on to pastures new this summer.
Iniesta, a European Championship and World Cup winner with Spain, has won 32 trophies during his 16-year spell in the La Liga giants’ first team.
And one man who knows him as well as anyone is ex-Barca star Xavi, the pair having played alongside each-other in midfield for both club and country for over 10 years.
Andres is for me the most talented player in the history of Spain, that I have seen anywhere,’ Xavi wrote. ‘He has a spectacular amount of talent.
‘If we talk about the person, I wouldn’t know where to start. He is admirable in all senses, an example for others and the personification of a team player.
‘He is a leader on the pitch, who always wants the ball. Do you know the importance of that? When many don’t want the ball anywhere near them because there is no way out, he asks for it. He always wants the ball.
‘He is a blessing for his team-mates. This is what it means to have personality, to be a real leaders. A quiet leader, but an authentic leader.
‘To watch him play was spectacular. What you imagined outside of the pitch, he did on it. It seemed at times as though he could hear your thoughts.
‘We never spoke much on the pitch in over 10 years playing together. It wasn’t necessary. We understood each other with a look.
‘Look at how he is loved across the world. Soon you will really know and appreciate what you have done for football, my friend, Andres.’
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