With the departure of Ludovic Giuly ahead of the 2007-08 campaign, Iniesta was able to switch his number 24 shirt for his preferred number 8 [REF].
At the start of the 2008-09 season, in September 2008, Iniesta was elected the fourth-choice captain behind, in order of preference, Carles Puyol, Xavi and Víctor Valdés; all four were products of the Barcelona youth system [REF].