Andres Iniesta is the new number 8 man for Barcelona.


Having left for AS Roma of Italy for a new life in the Serie A, former Barca star Giuly has left his number 8 shirt vacant and without any trustee. That was before Iniesta stepped up few days ago to asume ownership of Ludo's shirt Number 8.
Since the 1995-96 season when fixed shirt numbers became the norm in the Spanish First Division, the Number 8 jersey in FC Barcelona have been worn by five players, namely Amor (1995-96), Stoichkov (1996-98), Celades (1998-99), Cocu (1999 – 2004) and Giuly (2004-07). Iniesta will be the sixth player to wear the Number 8 shirt. Speaking on this development, the young Spanish star says :

I’ve always liked the number eight 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.

Iniesta is an important part of Barca's midfield and feels the shirt labelled 8 with better reflect his role and operational area in the Barcelona midfield. The former youth star is bracing up for a more challenging season in which Andres, having built up a strong profile for himself in Barcelona especially in the past two seasons, will be looked upon to deliver unblemished work while maintaing his enviable position in the Blaugrana midfield.