Barcelona Transfer News: Latest on Andres Iniesta Exit Rumours

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta has said he will reveal whether he will leave the club this summer before the end of April.

The Blaugrana great left the Wanda Metropolitano pitch in tears on Saturday, as Barca hammered Sevilla 5-0 in the Copa del Rey final. Iniesta was one of the goalscorers in the emphatic win, and his show of emotion left many assuming he's on his way out.

According to The Independent, the Spain midfielder is set to join Chinese Super League side Chongqing Dangdai Lifan at the end of the campaign. Speaking after Saturday's match, Iniesta said he would announce his intentions soon enough.

"This week I will make the decision public," he said, per Mundo Deportivo (h/t FourFourTwo). "There are many emotions, many feelings, many years—I'm happy to be able to give this image and the title. ... This week I will speak about the decision I make, as a person and as an athlete. The affection the people have shown me is priceless."

As highlighted below, Iniesta has been a serial winner during his time at Barcelona:

Should he depart, it will be a sad day for Cules. The 33-year-old has been one of the greatest players to don the Barcelona colours.

Iniesta has been at the heart of Barca's dominance for the past decade and, alongside Xavi Hernandez and Sergio Busquets, forged one of the greatest midfields football has ever seen.

His touch, his awareness and the variety of his passing have made Iniesta such a joy to watch down the years. And as we can see, courtesy of The Spanish Football Podcast, the playmaker is cherished in Spain:

There will be plenty who will say Iniesta is departing too soon because he remains one of the best midfielders in football on his day.

During the mauling of Sevilla, he excelled once again. His goal, which saw Iniesta quickly shift the ball past the goalkeeper before tucking home, was a vintage move from the legendary player.

But the opportunity to ply his trade elsewhere appears to have tempted Iniesta at this late stage of his career. And as Sid Lowe of the Guardian relayed, this way the veteran can ensure he goes out on a high:

Barcelona appear to have been preparing for the day Iniesta departs, with many citing January signing Philippe Coutinho as someone who could go some way to filling the big shoes the 33-year-old would leave behind.

But Iniesta is one of a kind. Having come through the Blaugrana academy, cemented his status as a first-team regular and become one of the finest players of his generation, he's an irreplaceable figure at the Camp Nou. It will be a sad day for all when he dons the club colours for the final time.