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Football

17th Apr 2018

Andres Iniesta’s exit from Barcelona a ‘done deal’

The deal contains an unusual clause

Wayne Farry

The Barcelona midfielder is expected to leave the Camp Nou in the summer, and could confirm his departure as early as this weekend.

Andres Iniesta’s time at Barcelona looks to be coming to an end. The legendary midfielder has looked a shadow of his former self at times this season – most notably during his side’s painful Champions League knockout defeat at the hands of AS Roma – and the signs are pointing to an exit from the club where he learned his craft.

While there are doubtless countless clubs which would be willing to take a chance on the once world class and still very, very good 33-year-old, reports in Spanish sports newspaper AS suggest that a move to China from the Camp Nou is a “done deal”.

Iniesta’s representatives are believed to have been negotiating a deal for a number of weeks, though the exact identity of his destination remains unknown.

Four clubs are believed to be in for the La Masia graduate, and any prospective deal is set to include the formation of children’s football camps by his management firm.

Unusually, it has been claimed that whichever club he signs with will buy the exclusive Chinese distribution rights for Bodega Iniesta, the player’s brand of wines.