FC Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta has confirmed his departure from the Spanish side at the end of the season. As Iniesta made the “difficult” announcement, the iconic midfielder was able to rely on the support of his team-mates.

Iniesta has had a permanent presence in the first team and has achieved world domination with club talisman,

Lionel Messi. Surprisingly, Barca’s two strikers Messi and Luis Suarez were absent for the announcement.

Suarez’s absence has not been explained, but it is believed that Messi had a “personal affair”. However, the captain will pay tribute to Iniesta at a private club event. After the final game against Real Sociedad, Iniesta will deliver a final public farewell at Camp Nou.

The Spaniard has been in the Barcelona youth system since he was 12 years old. He made his first-team debut during the 2002-03 season. Since then, he has never looked back and a glittering career has followed.

“It’s a very difficult day for me, to be here saying goodbye when I’ve spent my whole life here at Barcelona,” he said.

“A great deal of who I am, is down to Barca and La Masia – I am very thankful to them.”

The Spain international will end his career with another league title. Barcelona won the Copa del Rey with a 5-0 thrashing over Sevilla last week. If they win against Deportivo on Sunday, they will be crowned La Liga champions for the ninth time in Iniesta’s career.

The 33-year-old lost an opportunity to add a fifth Champions League crown when AS Roma eliminated Barcelona in the quarter-finals.

Iniesta’s post Camp Nou plans remain to be seen but he will likely reveal them in due course. He has been linked to a move to China, but the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal and Manchester City have had their eye on the defender.