Andres Iniesta was so deeply struck by the death of his friend, Dani Jarque, that he required special help from psychologists.
Dani Jarque, the captain of Espanyol, died of a heart attack in 2009 aged just 26. Speaking to The Guardian (h/t Bleacher Report), Iniesta revealed his mental struggles over the friend's death. He said he had become 'a victim of something that terrified' him.
"It felt like nothing was right," said the Barcelona legend. "When you're not right, you experience moments that impact upon you, that worry you.
"There are moments when your mind is very vulnerable. You feel a lot of doubts. What I'm trying to explain is that you can go from being in good shape to being in a bad way very quickly.
"When you need help, you have to look for it: at times it's necessary. People are specialists; that's what they're there for. You have to use them."
In 2010, Iniesta scored the winning goal in the World Cup final against the Netherlands. The midfielder tore off his shirt revealing a message: 'Dani Jarque, Siempre Con Nosotros' ('Dani Jarque, always with us').
It was that moment that made him 'feel like a footballer again', in his own words.
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