Iniesta says goodbye to Japan, sparks Saudi collecting appetite…4 Varsity Legends take aim
Japanese J-League player Andres Iniesta, 39, has announced his departure from the club.
Iniesta held a press conference at a hotel in downtown Kobe on the 25th and announced that he will leave Vissel Kobe in July. His contract runs until the end of this year, but he has decided to terminate it six months early by mutual consent.
Iniesta moved to Kobe in 2018 and spent five years in Japan. During his time in the J-League, he scored 21 goals and provided 22 assists in 113 games. “I’ve been imagining the moment I retire from Kobe, but it can’t be what I want it to be안전놀이터,” Iniesta said of his departure, adding, “It’s hard for me to continue playing here.”
A tearful Iniesta said goodbye to Kobe, but he will continue to play. When asked when he would retire, he said, “I don’t know. I still want to play football, and I believe I can play for a long time,” he said.
Iniesta, who plans to play until the end of his days, could be heading to Asia next. On the 26th, Spanish media ‘Sport’ reported that “one of Iniesta’s options is Saudi Arabia” and that “after acquiring Cristiano Ronaldo, they continue to lure great legends”.
Could Saudi Arabia get all of Barcelona’s legends Alba, Busquets, Messi, and Iniesta ⓒ Sport Caption
Iniesta has no intention of retiring just yet after parting ways with Japan ⓒ Yonhap/EPA
The media has recently noted that a number of players from Barcelona’s golden era are becoming free agents, with Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba having decided to leave the club at the end of the season. With their priority being to stay at the club, they have few options outside of the Middle East, where they can afford their high salaries.
According to Sport, “Busquets is currently in contact with Al Nasr and Al Hilal. Al Hilal want Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain) and are also thinking of bringing in Alba.” “If the plan works, four Barcelona legends could meet in Saudi Arabia. None of them have signed yet.”
Iniesta’s other destination is the United States. David Beckham’s Inter Miami are reportedly interested in the player, raising questions about his future.
