“Iniesta signed a
lifetime contract with FC Barcelona on Friday, in a deal that will keep him at
the club for the rest of his career,” Barca said in a statement.
Along with
five-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi, Iniesta is Barca’s most
decorated player of all-time having won 30 trophies at club level, including
eight La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues. Iniesta has also made the
second highest number of appearances in a Barca shirt behind Xavi Hernandez
with 639 since his debut 15 years ago. Born in the central Spanish region of
Castilla-La Mancha before joining Barca at the age of 12, Iniesta is a beloved
figure across Spain as he scored the winning goal in the 2010 World Cup final.
Normally determined
to shy away from the spotlight, Iniesta spoke out on Thursday to urge
negotiation and prevent a spiralling political crisis over the battle for Catalan
independence deepening. Hundreds required medical attention on Sunday as voters
in a referendum on independence, deemed illegal by Spain’s central government,
clashed with police.
“I have never before
publicly commented on situations that are so complex and involve such diverse
emotions, but this situation we are experiencing is exceptional,” Iniesta wrote
in a Facebook post. “One thing I know for sure: before we do any more harm,
those who are responsible for all this must hold dialogue. “Do it for all of
us. We deserve to live in peace.”
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