Tokyo: Hundreds of football fans flocked to cheer Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta when he arrived here, Wednesday to join his new club Vissel Kobe. He is expected to play the first game for the club, Sunday.
The 34-year-old Spaniard, who lifted 32 major trophies at Barca and made over 600 appearances for the Catalan giants, completed the big-money move to Japan in May.
About 300 fans came to Kansai airport at Osaka to greet 2010 World Cup winner Iniesta when he arrived early morning, according to a Vissel Kobe spokesman.
“I was looking forward to coming to Japan. I want to play as soon as possible,” Iniesta said, according to the spokesman. “I hope to get ready for Sunday and show the fans good play,” added the legendary midfielder.
Iniesta’s choice of Kobe is arguably Japanese football’s biggest transfer coup, with many top players now moving to cash-rich Chinese clubs in the twilight of their careers.
His signing is a timely boost to the J-League, which attracted luminaries such as Brazilian great Zico and England’s Gary Lineker when it began in 1993 but has struggled to lure marquee players in recent years.
Iniesta will join former Arsenal striker Lukas Podolski in the western port city of Kobe after Podolski completed a move from Galatasaray last summer.