Barcelona Defender Carles Puyol Announces He'll Leave La Liga Giants At End Of 2013-2014 Season

Though his career at Camp Nou has been nothing short of a success, current Barcelona star and captain Carles Puyol announced Tuesday at a press conference that his 14th season with the La Liga giants will be his last. The announcement has become a hot topic of discussion around the world of professional soccer and even though the 35-year-old defender knew he’d receive mixed feelings following his statement, Puyol -- who has also spent time with the Spanish National soccer team -- said that his decision will not impact the goals Barcelona set ahead of the 2013-2014 season, especially since there are still three months to go.

“I want to announce that at the end of the season I will no longer be a Barcelona player,” he said. “There are three months of the season left and I will not give up. I will help the team. After two recent surgeries, it has become harder for me to recover the level that I demand of myself and that I need to be at to play here. I don't know what I will do after June 30. But I'm sure that in the summer I will rest. I would like to have a press conference at the end of the season to say a proper goodbye after a total of 19 years at the club.”

Puyol has played his entire senior career with the Catalan Club, joining the Spanish Primera Division affiliates in 1999. Though his 392 league appearances will certainly be remembered, the fact that Puyol has only been able to partake in 5 Barcelona contests this season was a clear indication, at least according to the veteran, that it was time to step away from the club he’s called home for the last decade-plus. His 593 total appearances for Barca solidify him as one of the most beloved and dedicated players in team history while his high number of caps with the La Liga squad prove his value as a leader.

Through 26 La Liga matches this season, Barcelona sits one point shy of table-leading Real Madrid while competitive Atletico Madrid remains in the race with 61 points, just three off the pace.