Hours after Andrés Iniesta confirmed his departure from Barcelona by the end of the season, the player has been paid several tributes by fans, colleagues and experts. But perhaps the biggest compliment could come next week, as a possible guard of honor could be monted in El Clásico by Real Madrid and Barcelona players.
The notion of such a tribute for the player from Fuentealbilla isn't far-fetched, as Real Madrid's captain Sergio Ramos might convince his team-mates to pay their respects to one of the most talented players in the history of La Liga.
Today, Barcelona's coach talked about a possible guard of honor, but he would do it on a larger scale.
"Andrés deserves a guard of honor from the entire stadium. He can't be replaced. When such a talented player leaves, you have to find a balance to substitute him. I'm sure there will be no one like him in years to come," Valverde stated.
Barcelona's coach confirms he'll return next season
Speaking in the pre-match press conference, Valverde dismissed claims about a possible resignation, and confirmed that he will return for one more season as Barcelona's head coach.
"There's a lot of talk about the coach in terms of his results, but it's all speculation. I have one more year left in my contract and I'm really happy here," the coach revealed.
