Iniesta commits to Barcelona for life

Barcelona have confirmed that club captain Andres Iniesta has signed a deal keeping hin at the Camp Nou for life.

Iniesta's previous contract was due to end at the end of 2017/18, and there had been rumours that he would sign elsewhere, with the midfielder aged just 33.  

Juventus and Inter Milan had been courting Iniesta, but the Barca youth-team product has committed to his boyhood club for all remaining years of his involvement in football. Iniesta joined Barca aged 12, and has gone on to win eight La Liga titles, four Champions League titles, and 30 trophies in total, making him the joint most-successful player in the club's history alongside Lionel Messi. Iniesta has also made the second-highest number of appearances for Barca with 639.

The unusual move was confirmed by Barcelona on Twitter, with Iniesta making an appearance at a press conference to confirm the news with Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

Bartomeu commented: "The club has grown through this agreement because after 118 years of history it’s the first time we have ever offered a footballer a lifelong contract. This is a reward for Andrés’ exceptional career.

"The younger players in the squad always say that they see him as their role model – and that’s not just because of the way he plays but also because of the behaviour that has put him where he is today."

Iniesta also spoke about the new deal, saying: "This is a very special day for me, simply because it means I’m staying at my home, where I can continue to dream of achieving great things for this club. It’s where I have grown and developed.

"It makes me very happy to know that the club has given me this opportunity. I have always been convinced of my love for Barca and I know that I could never be anywhere better then here.

"I thank the club for its faith in allowing me this contract. I look forward to staying here and helping the team to achieve our targets and then at the end of the season I’ll think about what would be best for everyone.

"You can’t put a price on this. Not just being here but also to feel that I will always be able to continue doing important things for this team, I am so pleased with the way things have worked out, and right now I can see myself continuing to play football."

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Image: Getty/Alex Caparros.

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