Iniesta: Miss the time as a footballer; I observe Xavi everyday at Barca

In an exclusive interview with The Athletic, 41-year-old Andrés Iniesta reflected on his journey from La Masia to Barcelona, recounting his years playing alongside Pep Guardiola, Xavi and Sergio Busquets.

Iniesta recalled that when he first arrived at Barcelona's renowned La Masia academy at the age of twelve, he endured one of the most trying nights of his life. Prior to that, he had lived in the small town of Fuentealbilla in the province of Albacete, a community of just 2,400 people where he was constantly surrounded by family. Suddenly living hundreds of miles away from home, alone, left him feeling that while he was pursuing his dream, he bore deep scars. He described the "traumatic" change as physically and mentally exhausting, suggesting that even after life returned to normal, this experience may have contributed to his later struggles with depression during the peak of his career.

Now retired since last October, he still speaks of football in the present tense – perhaps because he can never truly stop playing, or perhaps because he hasn't fully accepted that he'll never step onto the pitch again.

In an interview, he remarked: "I think I'll miss those days for the rest of my life. I truly do miss it. The thing is, you realise football isn't just those 90 minutes on the pitch; it demands immense preparation. Ultimately, that's what wears you down."

This autumn marks the first anniversary of his new life after retirement, and Barcelona, the club where he spent his entire career, seems to be paying tribute to him through some of their away Champions League fixtures this season. Earlier this month, Barça played out a wild 3-3 draw at Club Brugge's home ground. It was on this very pitch that, in 2002, an 18-year-old Iniesta made his first-team debut for Barça. Now, they are set to visit Chelsea's Stamford Bridge, where the midfielder scored one of the most crucial goals of his career and Barça's history, securing the team's place in the 2009 Champions League final. That year, under Pep Guardiola's leadership, Barça achieved their first treble.

Iniesta's most enduring legacy stems from that Guardiola-era Barcelona side and the formidable midfield trio he formed with Xavi and Busquets. He has won almost everything at both club and international level: nine La Liga titles, six Copa del Rey trophies, four Champions League triumphs with Barcelona, the 2010 World Cup with Spain, and two European Championships spanning two tournament cycles. In the 2010 World Cup final against the Netherlands, he netted the winning goal in extra time to secure Spain's most prestigious title. That same year, he shared the Ballon d'Or podium with club teammates Lionel Messi and Xavi, ultimately finishing third.