Jordi Alba set to leave FC Barcelona at the end of 2022/23 season

FC Barcelona left-back Jordi Alba is set to leave the club at the end of the season after mutually agreeing to terminate contract. Alba's departure marks glorious 11 years at the club. The LaLiga club announced the decision via a statement on Wednesday, 24 May and wished the player good luck for his future endeavours.

The 34-year-old Spain international has played more than 450 games for Barcelona, winning the Champions League in 2015, six LaLiga titles, five Copa del Rey titles, four Spanish Super Cups and the Club World Cup.

Alba came up through Barcelona's La Masia academy, but left in 2005 and made a name for himself at Valencia, before rejoining the Catalan club in 2012.

"FC Barcelona and Jordi Alba have reached an agreement to terminate the player's contract with the club one year earlier than it was due to expire at the end of the 2023/24 season," Barcelona said in a



statement.

"FC Barcelona would like to publicly express its gratitude to Alba for his professionalism, commitment and dedication, and his ever-positive and friendly relationship with all members of the Barça family, and wishes him every fortune in the future. Barça will always be a home for you, Jordi," Barcelona said on Wednesday.

The left-back firmed his position in the club since his arrival in 2012. After the departure of Davi Alves in 2016, Alba formed a telepathic partnership with Lionel Messi in the field. Alba and Messi's exploits in the field wowed the fans for several years before Messi left the club due to a financial crisis.

"For many years, the man typically on the receiving end of those goal passes was Leo Messi. The two had an uncanny relationship. Alba and the Argentinian always seemed to know instinctively what the other was about to do, often creating goals out of nowhere," the club noted.