Today’s the day. We all knew it was coming, but still we refused to envisage a world beyond Andres Iniesta in situ at Barcelona, chief architect in a midfield graced by only the very best (and Alex Song).
Indeed, Iniesta has given a press conference at the Joan Gamper centre today to confirm that this will be his final season with his beloved Barca; 22 and out.
To mark the departure of a bona fide deity, here’s 15 peerless minutes of El Ilusionista in full flight and, truly, there is no more beautiful sight…
It’s like he can see everything unfolding at double the frame rate, flitting and shimmering past hacking limbs like a column of blaugrana smoke.
There are rumours Pep Guardiola is going all out to tempt his former ward into one last tour of duty in the Premier League with Man City next season.
Pies will need a bulk order of incontinence pads if it should actually come to pass.