The journey that changed Iniesta's life
Barcelona brought together Jose Antonio Iniesta and his son, Andres Iniesta, to film a documentary about the midfielder's arrival at Barcelona's famed La Masia academy, when he was just 12 years old.
"It was football... if it had been something else, I would not have moved heaven and earth, but football had been my passion forever. I exchanged having him with me for him having the opportunity to grow, to be more competitive so he could achieve his goals. That needed to be at Barça. I went from enjoying myself with him to suffering for him but the thought of this being the best place for him helped me," said Andres Iniesta's father, full of emotion.
The player himself summed up his now-or-never decision to leave Albacete at the age of 12 and make for La Masia academy: "The train only passes once."
Jose Antonio also showed his pride at the decision: "My son is a boy like the one in that car just 21 years older. I am proud of who he is. That is the prize from all this."
However, Andres' father was also keen to acknowledge the other important figure in the player's life, his mother: "She suffered more than I did because I could think about the football. She didn’t impose herself on the situation, she could have stopped her son from leaving but she didn’t do so and always supported the decision. I never made him come."
The father and son also remembered the first pair of boots Jose Antonio gave to his son, the legendary Adidas Predators. "They were black with stripes on the side, I still have them at my home in the village”, says Andrés. “They were the ones Koeman wore, which he said helped him strike the ball, they were very expensive!”, remembers the football-loving father
Fancy something to read? Check out this conversation between @andresiniesta8 and his father about the Barça captain's 21 years at Can Barça