Pep Can’t Make Me Leave Barcelona – Iniesta

Andres Iniesta says Pep Guardiola cannot persuade him to quit Barcelona, but insists his future is not in his hands.

The Spain international and FC Barcelona captain has spent his entire career with the Catalan giants, winning four Champions League trophies and eight La Liga titles, and has stated his intention to finish his career at the club.

However, despite midfield team-mate Sergio Busquets penning down a new five-year deal at the Nou Camp on Thursday, 32-year-old Andres Iniesta is yet to be offered an extension beyond his current contract, which expires in 2 years.

“Guardiola knows what I think, what I want, and my desire is ending my career here, like I’ve said many times,” Iniesta told Spanish radio station COPE. “I’m very clear about what I say and what I think, everybody knows it.

“I would love to end my career at Barcelona. I have a contract until 2018. We will have to ask the directors whether they want to extend my contract. But I can only repeat that I want to retire at Barcelona.”

It is likely that the Spanish midfielder will leave the club at the expiration of his contract but his destination is not certain as he might choose to go the way of former teammate, Xavi Hernandez who went to the middle East to prepare his retirement from football.