Why Barcelona's Andres Iniesta Still Has a Key Role to Play at the Camp Nou

They might be slowly taking over world football thanks to their vast riches, but there are some things that even the Chinese Super League can’t afford to buy.

As reported by the Daily Express, an unnamed club from the fastest-growing league on the planet has approached Barcelona in a bid to prise Andres Iniesta from the Catalans. As tasks go, it is a herculean one.

Because Iniesta is as much a feature of Barcelona as Las Ramblas, the Magic Fountain of Montjuic or the Camp Nou itself. Still extremely valuable to the club 14 years after he made his debut for the first team, he really shouldn’t be going anywhere soon, and the club obviously seem to know that.

A source close to the player told El Mundo Deportivo, (h/t the Express): "Iniesta is an icon and is not moving from here. He has a contract until 2018 and there is nothing to talk about with any club."

Done and done. The club captain is sticking around for another couple of years at least, and that really should be the end of it.

Having just played a key role in what is his eighth La Liga triumph—the same number as Lionel Messi and Xavi, from whom he learned so much—Iniesta has arguably never been more important than he is right now.

At 32, he still has both the legs and class to impact upon games, but more importantly, it is what he stands for that makes him so important to Luis Enrique, with his status as both a Barcelona and Spain legend certain to inspire those around him.

You can see how Ivan Rakitic has improved in the company of the World Cup winner this season, while younger players such as Sergi Samper and Gerard Gumbau are certain to listen whenever Iniesta speaks.

Having said that, he doesn’t strike you as a vocal captain. His leadership style is likely to be based on leading by example rather than fear.

But who wouldn’t be inspired by him? His career history is littered with wonderful performances and match-winning contributions, most notably in the 2010 World Cup final.

Of course we’ve seen several one-club legends eventually move on and finish their careers elsewhere, with Xavi’s move to Qatar or Steven Gerrard’s to the Los Angeles Galaxy coming to mind in particular, but both iconic midfielders were 35 years old when they made their moves. Iniesta isn’t quite over the hill just yet.

He might eventually like to experience another league and another culture out of curiosity, and if that time comes, then he should be allowed to do so by a club who don’t really owe him anything any more, but that doesn’t look like coming for a couple of years at least.

As the Barcelona captain, Iniesta will be leading from the front until that contract ends in 2018, and having been named in Spain’s provisional squad for Euro 2016 on Tuesday, he looks like continuing to play a key role for his country in this summer’s tournament and perhaps the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Beyond that? Who knows, but who could have predicted the futures of Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique when they were excelling in the Barca midfield in years gone by? Could Iniesta follow suit? Never say never.

China, or elsewhere, can wait for now. He’s still got a job to do as Enrique’s leader on the pitch.

You have to admire both the ambition and vision of those looking to grow the game in the Far East, but they haven’t quite reached the point where they can pluck one of the most important players from the Primera Division champions and transport him straight into their league just yet.

Nice try, China. Maybe come back in a couple of years.