Andrés Iniesta Shines in Friendly Match Against Old Club Barcelona Before Leaving Vissel Kobe

Former Spain national soccer player Andrés Iniesta, who will leave J1 Vissel Kobe this summer, participated in a friendly match against his old club Barcelona held at the National Stadium on the night of the 6th, and drew 47,000 spectators with a splendid play. I was able to understand the audience beyond.

Iniesta made a shock transfer from Spanish powerhouse Barcelona to Vissel in 2018, and in his second season in Japan, he played an active role as a central player of Vissel, leading the club to the Emperor’s Cup victory, the club’s first title.

However, due to a change in the team’s tactics, his opportunities to play decreased from the middle of last season. I’m here.

Before leaving the team, Iniesta started in a friendly match with his former club Barcelona at the National Stadium on the night of the 6th.

From the beginning of the match, Iniesta created many chances with his signature pass, and in the 31st minute of the first half, he took a shot himself in cooperation with his teammates, repeatedly closing in on the opponent’s goal.

Although he didn’t score a goal, he showed great skill throughout his 80 minutes of play, and when he was substituted, he hugged Barcelona coach Xavi, with whom he once won the World Cup with the Spanish national team.

The National Stadium was packed with 47,335 spectators in the rain and received a big round of applause.

After the match, Iniesta expressed his gratitude to the supporters, saying, “Thank you for always showing love and respect to me and my family. Japan is my home.”

Iniesta will leave Vissel at the end of the league match against Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo on the 1st of next month.

Iniesta: ‘I have a special feeling’

At the post-match press conference, Iniesta said, “This match was a place to say goodbye to all the Japanese football fans, and to repay their respect and affection. I am very happy to have achieved that. Everything. It was a wonderful day,” he recalled.

After the match, he said that he was in tears when he made a lap around the stadium, saying, “The five years of experience in Japan have become part of my life, and when I think about it, I feel a special feeling. This stadium. It was special to be able to play against Barcelona in , and I was able to enjoy playing on the pitch.”

Manager Yoshida “Professional on and off the pitch”

Takayuki Yoshida, manager of Vissel Kobe, commented on Iniesta’s play after the match, “He created decisive chances here and there, and I once again felt that he was a great player. What he brought to the J.League They are very important in Japan’s football world, and I would like to thank them for showing us their professionalism both on and off the pitch.”

Barcelona coach Xavi: ‘One of my special players’

Barcelona coach Xavi, who won the 2010 World Cup with Spain and was a long-term teammate, said: “I was really happy to play against a team with football legend Iniesta. He has become a veteran. But the quality of his play was remarkable and he is one of the special players for me. He has brought a lot to Spanish football and Barcelona.” I was.