Iniesta enjoys emotional final flourish as China move nears

Andres Iniesta hinted he may have played his last final for Barcelona after it crushed Sevilla 5-0 to win the Copa del Rey on Saturday night.

Barcelona captain Iniesta said he would reveal his future plans "this week" as the 33-year-old weighs up an offer from Chinese Super League club Chongqing Dangdai Lifan that would end his glorious 16-year career at Camp Nou.

There was no sign of age catching up with the Spaniard at Wanda Metropolitano Stadium where Iniesta capped a sublime performance by scoring Barca's fourth goal.

He looked tearful as he departed to a standing ovation in the second half, from some Sevilla fans too, before hoisting the cup aloft.

"This week I will make my decision public but we will always have days like today," Iniesta said.

Asked if this was his last final with Barcelona, Iniesta replied: "It's a possibility. In a few days I'll make it public and nothing more. Today is a very special and emotional day."

Gong Daxing, the chairman of Chongqing's main sponsor SWM, told Xinhua on Saturday he was "positive" the club would sign Iniesta, who was linked with Lifan's CSL rivals Tianjin Quanjian in March.

"I will say what the decision is this week," said Iniesta. "I think it's a little clear but we will see."

Lionel Messi scored in between a first-half double for Luis Suarez as Barcelona ran riot to secure its fourth Spanish King's Cup triumph in as many years. Philippe Coutinho converted a late penalty, awarded for a Clement Lenglet handball, to make it 5-0.

But Iniesta was the man of the moment. He finished off a fine move for Barca's fourth goal, with a superb shimmy leaving Sevilla goalkeeper David Soria helpless to save his strike.

"Today he played a match at such a high level, it seemed that he was 25 years old," Sevilla coach Vincenzo Montella said. "It would be difficult to find another player to replace him."

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde said: "When I was a player I would have given my right arm to do what he and Messi do. It's a stroke of good luck to have him."

This was the sixth time Iniesta has won the Copa del Rey, adding another trophy to a remarkable collection that includes eight La Liga titles, three Champions League crowns and a World Cup.

He will win a ninth La Liga title if Barcelona beats Deportivo La Coruna this weekend.

'Leave a good taste'

"It was a great night in all ways, on a collective and personal level," Iniesta said.

"We will try to add the league to leave a good taste in people's mouths. It is a day of many emotions and I am very happy."

Barca defender Jordi Alba said: "It has been and is a pleasure to share a changing room with him today, he is number one in his position and as a person.

"The decision that he takes should be respected because he deserves it. But the day Iniesta leaves is the day we will all cry. We will miss him."

Agence France-presse