End of the road! La Masia graduate and Champions League winner hangs up his boots
One of the great footballing travelers has reached his final destination: Cristian Tello has announced his retirement at 35.
Details: The Spanish winger confirmed the decision in an emotional video, closing a career of over 500 professional appearances that took him from Camp Nou to Saudi Arabia and the United States. A Barcelona academy graduate, Tello made his first team debut under Pep Guardiola in 2011 and was part of the squad that won the Champions League that same year.
Tello's story is one of glittering peaks and endless journeys. He won two La Liga titles with Barcelona before loans at Porto and Fiorentina, found a true home at Real Betis where he lifted the Copa del Rey in 2022, and then went global: a Supporters' Shield with LAFC, prolific spells at Al Fateh and Al Orobah in Saudi Arabia, and a final stop in the UAE. Along the way he represented Spain at the 2012 Olympics and earned a senior cap in 2013. In his farewell message he summed it up simply: football has given me everything. Few careers have touched so many leagues, cultures and dressing rooms across four continents.
It's worth noting that Tello scored 91 career goals across all competitions, including strikes in the Champions League, La Liga, Serie A, Portugal's Liga NOS, MLS and the Saudi Pro League.
Reminder: Cherif Ndiaye announces his retirement from international football.
Miguel Solomons
Dailysports's expert
