Leo Messi tried until the last moment to prevent Andrés Iniesta's retirement. And his wish was shared by his Inter Miami teammates Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Luis Suárez.
Messi Asked Iniesta to Think About It
"You can't leave," the Argentine told him a few days before officially announcing his retirement from active soccer. And he offered him a place at Inter Miami , where he would be supported by his former teammates.
Iniesta was grateful for the gesture, but rejected the offer to play in the American league again alongside Leo Messi.
INIESTA, discurso completo de su RETIRADA
He told him that at 40 years old (Messi is three years younger) his body is no longer able to continue playing. Not even in the MSL.
Since leaving Barça in 2018, Iniesta spent six years at Vissel Kobe in Japan and finished his career at Emirates Club in the United Arab Emirates. There he saw that the time had come to say farewell.
And today he's announced it publicly. Messi did everything he could to make him reconsider. He offered him a position at his side at Inter Miami, but Iniesta asked him to meet again in Barcelona.
The Argentine then sent him a loving message: “The ball is going to miss you,” he told him.
And he added in his Instagram message: "One of the teammates with most magic and the one I enjoyed playing with the most."
The ball will miss you and so will we all. I wish you the best always. You are the man."
He's Started a Coaching Course and Wants to Return to Barça
Sincere and affectionate words from the man who shared with the player from La Mancha the happiest moments of their lives as Barça players.
Iniesta and Messi lived alongside Xavi one of the most glorious moments of Barça, being the three finalists for the Ballon d'Or in 2010. All three were trained in the La Masía youth academy.
Between 2004 and 2018, Iniesta and Messi shared a dressing room, winning 32 titles together, including four Champions Leagues.
In his farewell speech, Iniesta, surrounded by his former Barça teammates, admitted that he would like to return to the club. And he gave a hint: he's started a coaching course. Will we see him in the dugout at Camp Nou one day?