Iniesta Hits Record $30m In J-League
BY COBHAM NSA, ABUJA- With a whopping $30 million on the card, FC Barcelona great, Andres Iniesta has joined Japan’s Vissel Kobe, describing his record transfer move to the J-League as an ‘important career challenge’.
After signing his contract at a glitzy unveiling in Tokyo on Thursday, the 34-year-old Spain’s midfield maestro said; “This is a very special day for me.”
Iniesta, who is a World Cup winner with the Spanish National soccer team, said; “I had a lot of offers, other clubs showed an interest in me.”
He reportedly agreed a three-year contract with an annual salary of $30 million to set a new J-League record signing.
According to him, “But I chose Vissel Kobe because it was an interesting project. There was also a lot of trust and confidence in me as a person and also as a player – that was a big reason.”
“I’d like to help take this club forward and help the J-League grow in Asia,” said Iniesta, who will be meeting up with his new team mates after the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
“I’m looking forward to getting to know the Kobe players as quickly as possible to be able to help with that process”, he said.
Iniesta, with 32 major trophies to his name and 674 appearances for Catalan giants, Barca, was handed his trademark number 8 jersey by the owner of Vissel Kobe, Hiroshi Mikitani.
In his remarks, Mikitani said; “I am confident that Iniesta’s leadership philosophy and his DNA will be a terrific inspiration for not only Vissel Kobe but Japanese football.
“His arrival in Japan will raise the profile of Japanese football globally. Iniesta will inspire and empower us to reach new heights in football in Japan. We are very proud to see this day come.”
The Spain legend’s decision to pick Kobe arguably represents Japanese football’s biggest transfer coup, with many top players now moving to cash-rich Chinese clubs in the twilight of their careers.
Reports said it also comes as a timely boost to the J-League that in the past attracted globally-acknowledged football personalities like Brazilian icon, Zico and former England star Gary Lineker when hostilities flagged-off in 1993. However, the J-League has, in recent years, struggled to attract great players to the Asian nation with China becoming the preferred destination for retiring footballers
Iniesta now joins former Arsenal striker, Lukas Podolski of Germany in the western port city of Kobe after completing a move from Turkish side, Galatasaray last summer. Podolski was quick to send a ‘welcome’ tweet to Iniesta on Thursday.
Interestingly, Michael Laudrup of Denmark, himself a former Barcelona fan favourite and one of Iniesta’s boyhood heroes, also donned Vissel’s shirt between 1996 and 1997. – With agency reports
