Iniesta to leave barcelona

At end of campaign, Catalan midfielder set to bid goodbye to his boyhood club after 16 trophy-filled seasons

Andres Iniesta, the midfielder who embodied Barcelona's creative attacking style and helped the team win dozens of trophies, is leaving the Spanish club after 16 seasons.

In an emotional news conference attended by most of his teammates, his family and club executives, Iniesta said Friday "this season is the last" at Barcelona.

"I have spent all my life here at this club and it is not easy to leave," Iniesta said after fighting back tears and regaining his composure. "My time here ends this season. I understand that the club that took me in at 12 deserves the best of me in return, and I have given it that until now, but in the near future I won't be able to both physically and mentally.

"The club has placed its confidence," he said. "And I have always said that if I am not able to give my all to my club that has given me everything then I wouldn't be happy."

Iniesta, who turns 34 on May 11, said that he intends to continue playing but did not reveal what his next club will be.

"I have always said that I would never compete against my club, so all the options outside Europe are open," Iniesta said. "When the season is over we will know my choice."

Local media reported that the Spain midfielder will be signing a lucrative contract with a club in the Chinese league.

Iniesta left his village in southern Spain to join Barcelona's youth academy when he was 12. He went on to become one of the best players in its history, helping the team win 31 titles - a club record he shares with Lionel Messi.

Iniesta has helped Barcelona win four Champions League titles, eight Spanish leagues, six Copa del Reys, three Club World Cups, seven Spanish Super Cups and three European Super Cups.

And Iniesta is expected to get one more trophy for the club with Barcelona on the cusp of clinching the league title. The club leads Atletico Madrid by 11 points with four games left.

Iniesta has been a fan favorite at Camp Nou since he helped it start its current winning era by claiming the Spanish league title in 2005 under Frank Rijkaard. He went on to form a dominant midfield pairing with Xavi Hernandez under the orders of Pep Guardiola, and has become team captain.

Last year, Iniesta signed the first lifelong contract ever given by Barcelona. And even though he is opting out of that deal, club president Josep Bartomeu said that there were no hard feelings.

Bartomeu said Messi was the best player in Barcelona history for his goals and unmatched talent, but he has plenty of praise for Iniesta, too.

"Iniesta is the most important player of this winning era that started in 2004," Bartomeu told Cadena SER radio on Thursday. "He has been a key part of all the teams under all our coaches, from Rijkaard, Guardiola, Tito Vilanova, (Gerardo) "Tata" Martino, Luis Enrique and now Ernesto (Valverde). He deserves our respect."

Iniesta has shown this season that he is still able to perform at a top level. He has been a first-choice player for Valverde and was still its most decisive attacking midfielder.

The loss of Iniesta is a blow to the entire Spanish league. He is widely admired and loved by fans across the country for his winning goal for Spain in the 2010 World Cup and his role in Spain winning the 2008 and 2012 European Championships. He is often applauded by opposing fans when substituted on the road.

This year, Iniesta will play for Spain at the World Cup in Russia. That will likely be his last chance to add to his glorious career with the national side.

But first, Iniesta has four more matches with Barcelona, starting on Sunday at Deportivo La Coruna. He will bid his final farewell at home on May 20 against Real Sociedad.

"To Barcelona's fans, who have seen me grow up and followed every step I have taken, and been with me through the good times and the bad," Iniesta said, "I will take your love with me in my heart."

Barca eye 25th Liga triumph

Barcelona need only a point against Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday to confirm a domestic double and win La Liga for the third time in four years.

Andres Iniesta will be at the centre of any celebrations, with the Spaniard expected to announce his Barca departure in the coming days.

The Spaniard made an emotional exit from the victorious Copa del Rey final last weekend, bleary-eyed as he was substituted in the second half, and it will be a nostalgic occasion again when he hoists his final trophy with the club.

"The love and respect that people have for me is something I feel deep inside," Iniesta said.

"My aim now is to try to add the league to the Cup."

It would be Iniesta's ninth league title won with Barca, 13 years after his first, and his last might yet prove his finest, given Barca also stand five unbeaten games from becoming La Liga's only ever invincible team.

Real Madrid could yet intervene when the 'clasico' comes to the Camp Nou next weekend but Deportivo would appear unlikely spoilers, sitting 18th, nine points adrift of Levante with four games left to play.

Some have suggested Clarence Seedorf's side would even prefer to have their fate settled against Barcelona than at the home of their fiercest rivals Celta Vigo, whom they visit six days later.

"We are going to play to death to win it," Deportivo striker Adrian Lopez said.

"We know that we face a Barca that are practically champions and I hope they come a little calmer than usual. I hope they have their heads on the World Cup."

That may prove wishful thinking given Barca arrive on the back of arguably their best performance of the season against Sevilla and are still trying to make a statement following their Champions League loss to Roma.

Liverpool's emphatic 5-2 win over the Italians on Tuesday has only underlined the carelessness of that defeat, while Real beating Bayern Munich to edge closer to a third consecutive European triumph makes their absence all the more galling.

Adding a 25th league crown to the Copa del Rey would go some way to softening the disappointment.

"We have been pursuing the league since the beginning of the season," Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde said.

"It's something that is very hard to achieve, it's the title that gives you most satisfaction." With the title, relegation and Champions League spots all-but settled, La Liga's climax is likely to be found in the race for the Europa League where at least six teams are fighting it out for three places.

Real Betis look secure, five points clear in fifth, but only six points separate Villarreal in sixth and Celta Vigo in 10th. In between sit Sevilla, Getafe and Girona.

Sevilla will be hoping to bounce back from their hammering by Barca with a win at struggling Levante on Friday while their rivals are guaranteed to drop points, with Villarreal hosting Celta on Saturday and Getafe at home to Girona on Sunday.

"We have to work harder," Sevilla coach Vincenzo Montella said. "We have to be even more focused now to finish the league well and fight to qualify for Europe."

Betis entertain bottom-club Malaga on Monday.