Football
ESPN staff 7y

Andres Iniesta did not want to move to Barcelona as a youngster

Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta has admitted that he was reluctant to join Barcelona as a youngster.

Iniesta, 32, has had a glittering career with club and country, after moving to join Barcelona in 1996, from Fuentealbilla in Albacete at the age of 12.

Since then, the talented midfielder has played more than 400 games for Barcelona, scoring 34 goals in the process. He has eight La Liga winners' medal to go with four Champions League titles.

Iniesta also won the European Championship twice and the World Cup with Spain.

But things could have been different had Iniesta gone against his father's wishes as a child.

"The first response was that I did not want to come because I put my family bond before going to a place so far away and without them," Iniesta told beIN Sports.

"The passage of the weeks and talk with my father made me see it as a challenge.

"With my father I have a lot of confidence, a lot of affinity and I know that when he tells me things, he usually succeeds.

"I respect my father and I knew I had to take the plunge. After that, it was the worst months of my life as a person, but with the help of everyone, day by day, it was much better."

Iniesta, who has made 26 appearances for Barca this season, will be hoping to captain his team to another league title while also vying for Champions League honours.

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