FCBARCELONA.CAT

19.07.2007 12:29

Iniesta is Barça’s new number 8

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Spanish international midfielder Andrés Iniesta, who has told www.fcbarcelona.cat of his desire spend his entire career at Barça, is swapping his number 24 shirt for number 8 this season.

Iniesta has worn the number 24 shirt for the last four years. However, the departure of Ludovic Giuly has enabled him to fulfil a longstanding wish: “I’ve always liked the number 8 shirt and I wore it a few times in the youth teams and for Spain. I’m a bit sad to give up the number 24 shirt but I’m excited about wearing number 8. The chance has come up now that Giuly has left. I wish him the best of luck in his new life in Italy”.

Nothing but Barça

As for a story that has appeared today (Thursday) in Madrid based sports paper 'Marca' stating that Real Madrid are interested in paying his release clause, Iniesta told us: “I’ve been told about that and I’m very surprised. I can’t do anything about it but I’d like to insist once again that I want to stay here. When I say I want to retire in Barça, I say it with all my heart. And my wishes are above everything else”.

Iniesta is very excited by the arrival of the new signings and is upbeat about the 2007-08 season: “Last season hurt and I want to get even. A great team is being put together and I’ll be part of it”.