Those hoping that Andres Iniesta will join their team in January will have to pin their hopes on another superstar. Barcelona's vice president Josep Bartomeu recently revealed that the team plans to give the Spanish hero a record contract.
According to reports, Iniesta is slated to sign a five-year deal with the team that will make him the highest paid soccer player in Europe.
"Iniesta will be one of the best paid because he is the best player in Europe," Bartomeu said according to ESPNFC. "The negotiations are underway and both sides want to sign. Iniesta's new contract will be the maximum allowed of five years."
There were growing concerns that Iniesta would leave after the star rejected an initial offer from his club. However, he noted that he was comfortable with his current side.
"The renewal is not something which concerns me from day to day," Iniesta said in the same report. "I do not care about being in second, third, or fourth place at Barca. I just want to feel the same from the club's side, as what I feel for Barca."
Rumors indicated that Iniesta could head over to the Premier League and join teams starved for midfield attackers of Iniesta's caliber. One team constantly rumored to have interest in the Spaniard was Manchester United.
Iniesta is 29 and is still in top form. It is unlikely that Barcelona will want to let him go after his tremendous performances for the club and country over the last few years.