Kobe (Japan): Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta made his first appearance at the Vissel Kobe stadium since signing for the Japanese side. He greeted over 8,000 spectators who had gathered to see him and vowed to make his new club the biggest in Asia.
Wearing the No.8 shirt – like he did at Barcelona – the 34-year-old World Cup winner attended a welcome ceremony at the J-League club’s home stadium with team owner Hiroshi Mikitani.
“This is a big challenge for me,” Iniesta told the fans through an interpreter two days after signing his contract at a glitzy unveiling in Tokyo. He displayed his ball-juggling technique and kicked footballs into the crowd, delighting fans.
“I aim to contribute to the team as much as possible,” said Iniesta, who is reported to have agreed a three-year deal with an annual salary of $30 million, a J-League record.
“I think I should pursue the best objectives in both football and my life,” he added, saying he wants Vissel to win the league and ‘if possible, conquer Asia’.
The Spain icon’s decision to choose 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.
His signing is a timely boost to the J-League, which used to attract luminaries such as Brazilian great Zico and former England star Gary Lineker when it began in 1993 but has struggled to attract marquee players in recent years.
Following the World Cup in Russia, Iniesta will join former Arsenal striker Lukas Podolski at Vissel, currently sixth in the J-League first division after 15 games.
