BARCELONA skipper Vicky Losada tearfully called time on her career with the LaLiga Women’s champs ending weeks of exit rumours.
The midfielder who has been linked with a Manchester City move was speaking days after she reportedly claimed to have not had the confidence of coach Lluis Cortes.
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At a club press conference to announce her departure an emotional Losada said: “This will be my last season at the club.
“You have to know when a cycle has come to an end.
“Everything that I have experienced as a Barca player has made me the happiest person in the world.”
The former Arsenal ace, 30, led Barcelona through one of their most successful trophy-winning seasons last term.
The club lost just once in Spain’s top division on their way to their sixth LaLiga Women’s title and their eighth Copa de la Reina.
And the Catalan giants made history this season winning their first-ever Champions League title after beating WSL titans Chelsea 4-0.
Losada came on as a second-half substitute in the 71st minute in that game.
The midfielder, who made 28 appearances for Barcelona last term, made her Barca first-team debut at the age of 16
And the player went on to win 23 trophies with the club including six LaLiga titles and seven Copa de la Reinas.
The Spain ace enjoyed four separate spells with the Catalan giants – spanning 13 years – with one-season stints at Espanyol, Western New York Flash and Arsenal in 2007, 2014 and 2015.
In a frank and revealing FourFourTwo interview Losada dropped hints that her time with the Blaugranes was coming to an end.
And the midfielder suggested she had more years to give to the game as a player.
Losada told FourFourTwo: “This year has been hard for me and I have not felt valued nor have I had the confidence of the coach.
I’m in very good shape, I feel like I can still play for many years and I want to be happy playing football.
“I’m studying my situation and my future, but I’m not going to lie to you, maybe it’s time to think about myself, my happiness and that of the people who love me.
The former WSL star’s reported admission comes amid speculation that City are leading the race to sign her.
The Barcelona-born player is said to be in advanced talks with Gareth Taylor’s side, according to Catalunya Radio host Marta Carreras.
On her radio show, Carreras said: “The captain (Losada) will leave for the English club if nothing goes wrong. The operation is very advanced”
“It will be made official in the coming days, probably this week.”
The ex-Gunners ace has positive memories of her Women’s Super League experience.
In an interview with The Times, she spoke on her appreciation of Arsenal and how much she missed playing in the WSL.
Losada said: “I love the environment, the competitiveness . . . I just love the [English] game and I miss that.
“Here [at Barcelona] it is a different kind of game. I connected very well with the girls at Arsenal.
“I didn’t want to leave. I left because in my heart I had to come back home.
“But I’m actually missing the WSL, it is the best league in the world right now.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
