Iniesta to leave Barca at the end of the season

The Spain international broke down in tears at Barcelona’s training ground with all his team mates present and a packed press room burst into applause when he finished his opening statement. “This is my last season here. This is a decision I have thought about for a very long time and have considered a lot, thinking about myself and my family,” Iniesta said.

“I understand that after 22 years here I know what it means to be a player for this team, which for me is the best in the world.” Spanish media reported Iniesta will sign for Chinese club Chongqing Dangdai Lifan next season.

“There are still things to sort out and everything will become clearer at the end of the season but I have always said I would never go to a team that competes with Barcelona,” he said. Iniesta has spent all of his senior career at Barcelona and is its most decorated player ever along with Lionel Messi, having lifted 31 trophies, which is soon to be 32 if Barca clinch the Liga title on Sunday at Deportivo La Coruna.

The 33-year-old first said he could leave Barca after its 3-0 win over Chelsea in the Champions League on March 14, telling reporters he had to decide whether to accept an offer from China by the end of April.

He was given a standing ovation by both sets of supporters when he was substituted after putting in a virtuoso display and scoring in a 5-0 win over Sevilla in Saturday’s King’s Cup final. The midfielder is one of the most loved footballers in Spain after he scored the only goal in the 2010 World Cup final when it beat the Netherlands to lift the trophy for the first time.

He is also remembered for his touching tribute to his friend, the late Espanyol player Dani Jarque, after scoring the winning goal, ripping off his shirt to reveal a t-shirt saying “Dani Jarque, always with us.” He also won the European Championship in 2008 and 2012.