• Midfielder announces his departure in emotional press conference • ‘My only aim was to be a success at this club and I have done that’

Andrés Iniesta has announced he will leave Barcelona at the end of the season. The 33-year-old came through the club’s youth system and turned professional in 2001.

“This is my last season here,” Iniesta said during an emotional press conference that was witnessed by members of Barça’s first-team squad. “I want to thank my team-mates. My only aim was to be a success at this club and I have done that.”

Andrés Iniesta begins glorious goodbye as an era draws to a close | Sid Lowe Read more

The midfielder has won eight La Liga titles with Barcelona as well as four Champions Leagues and scored the only goal as Spain beat the Netherlands to win the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Iniesta has been linked with a move to the Chinese Super League, although he refused to confirm he will be joining Chongqing Dangdai Lifan as has been reported.

“There are still things to be sorted,” said the veteran, who earned 125 caps for Spain having made his debut for the national team in 2006. “I will never play against Barça, so I won’t play in Europe.”

Paying tribute to Iniesta, Pep Guardiola, his former manager at Barcelona, said: “I just say thank you because he helped me. He helped me to understand the game better – just watching him. He was an example of how to be a professional on and off the pitch.”