Andres Iniesta, tearful farewell and future announcement

Andres Iniesta leaves Vissel Kobe but doesn’t quit

Andres Iniesta has decided, by mutual agreement with the management of Vissel Kobe, to terminate his contract with the Japanese club until 2024. The former Barcelona man, in Japan since 2018 after an extraordinary career in the blaugrana and with the Spanish national team, made the announcement himself at a press conference, even letting a few tears escape. However, the footballer specified that he did not want to hang up his boots just yet.

“I had imagined that I would retire here, it was everyone’s wish,” Iniesta said. “The coach’s priorities are different and I respect and accept that. I am 39 years old but I want to keep playing, I feel fit and the enthusiasm is not lacking. I will evaluate the options I have available to me.”

The decision by the 2010 world champion and the club came after only 38 minutes played this season and the feeling that he has ended up on the fringes of the technical project of a club that, with Iniesta, has brought the Emperor’s Cup in 2019 and the Japanese Super Cup in 2020 to its trophy cabinet.