Iniesta emulates Xavi's Barca farewell

Barcelona fans collectively close their eyes and cover their ears each time they hear that Iniesta may finish at the club this season. He won't retire from football just yet, but his time at Barca, the club he has done absolutely everything with, may be drawing to an end. A leader, a special type of footballer, a genius. He shares many similarities with his good friend Xavi Hernandez, with whom he has spent the vast majority of his successful career. 

In just over a month, Iniesta must decide his future plans. He renewed his life-long contract with Barcelona a few months ago, but interest from China opened the door to an incomparable financial contract. If Iniesta does decide to leave Camp Nou, it is his most likely option, in a similar move to one that his former team-mate Xavi made in 2015. 

For his part, Xavi, the current Al-Sadd midfielder has not yet decided what his next step is. Whether he will renew his contract at the Qatari club or hang up his boots entirely, something that Iniesta may well have considered after a string of injuries affected the final stretch in his playing career.

Xavi bid his former club farewell with a treble of domestic league, domestic cup and European Cup in his final season. An almost unbeatable goodbye that Iniesta may well be able to replicate this season, since Barcelona have the opportunity to win another treble.

Despite the new arrivals of Dembele, Coutinho and Paulinho; Iniesta continues to be a key player in both Barcelona and the Spanish national team. He will compete for Spain in his final World Cup tournament this summer.

Xavi spent 17 years at Barcelona, with Iniesta following shortly behind with 16 years. The two Barca legends seem to have even found a way to say goodbye in a similar manner.