In a recent interview with TyC Sports, former Barcelona superstar Andres Iniesta discussed several topics ranging from his admiration for Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona and Argentine football to the Barça team under Pep Guardiola, among others.
Hailing Messi as one of the best ever, Iniesta said: “The Messi of before and the one of now is different from all. He is number one. The only thing he has done is grow, improve himself, and make his teammates better.
“A team with Messi has a very important point to achieve victories and titles. I haven’t seen anyone do the things he does.”
There has been a lot of rumble about Messi potentially returning to Barcelona in 2023 when his contract with PSG expires. Giving his opinion on that possibility, the current Vissel Kobe captain added: “Going back to Barcelona is never easy, but Leo can come back, it’s still a possibility.”
Iniesta then added that Messi’s presence made Argentina one of the favourites for the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Qatar, while insisting that he would be happy if his former Barcelona teammate won the trophy.
“Argentina are one of the candidates for the World Cup. They have a great team, with experienced and young players. They are in a great moment. If Messi is there, of course, they are one of the favourites,” he said.
“Other favorite teams are Brazil, Spain, and France. If Leo wins the World Cup, I’m happy as a teammate,” Iniesta added.
Iniesta was one of the strongest pillars of Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering Barcelona side that won a whole host of trophies and dominated the European footballing scenes for several years in the late 2000s and the early 2010s.
Reminiscing on that period, Iniesta said: “Guardiola’s Barcelona stood out not only for the titles we won but for the way we did it. It went beyond winning or losing.”
“I never enjoyed football as much as I did during Guardiola’s Barcelona era. Not only because of that midfield but because of the team and the coach we had. I enjoyed it like never before and I think that what that team achieved was something that had never happened before,” the legendary midfielder said.
Talking about his goal in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals against Chelsea, Iniesta said: “The ‘Iniestazo’ is a moment for everyone. I can’t attribute it to myself. That goal allowed us to play in the Champions League final and win it, and everything that came after.”
Iniesta left Barcelona in the summer of 2018 as a free agent, after his contract had run down. He departed having made over 600 appearances and won more than 30 titles. Looking back at his exit from Camp Nou, the Blaugrana icon said:
“When I said goodbye to Barcelona I felt pride, satisfaction, and happiness. Beyond the melancholy and sadness that a moment like this can give you. At 34 years old, looking back and seeing that all the effort I’ve put in – not only me but my family as well – well, everything had been rewarded, because it’s infinite pride.”
On the three favourite goals he has scored in his career, Iniesta said: “One with the National Team against Belgium, very nice. Another in the last Copa del Rey final was nice and one at the Bernabéu was very good. There hasn’t been much but there were cool ones.”
Iniesta also touched upon his interaction with former Barcelona star and Argentine legend Diego Maradona, saying: “When Maradona came to see the Barcelona training I was able to greet him. It was not a very long meeting. It was something stratospheric.”
Iniesta also had words of praise for another former Barcelona and Argentina footballer in Juan Roman Riquelme, as he named him among the five teammates he enjoyed playing the most with.
“The five players with whom I most enjoyed playing on the field were: Xavi, Neymar, Eto’o, Busquets, and Román,” Iniesta said. “With Riquelme we exchanged messages. We have maintained that contact. It was special to be with him in the locker room and watch him train and play,” he added.
Revealing his admiration for another Argentine icon, Iniesta admitted that he idolised Pablo Aimar, saying: “My idol was Pablo Aimar. From when I saw him play in Spain. For those of us who like football it has always been special to see him play.”
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