Andres Iniesta has no plans to retire from football yet despite his age
The 2010 World Cup champion and legendary player for Barcelona, Andrés Iniesta, has announced his resignation from Vissel Kobe, but the 39-year-old midfielder has no immediate intentions to terminate his career in football. Iniesta’s decision to quit the J-League team in the middle of the current campaign has drawn criticism, especially in light of the fact that he just extended his contract with Kobe through January 2024.
Iniesta only made three substitute appearances in the J-League this season due to his struggles to get consistent playing time, which prompted him to look for a fresh challenge overseas. Although there have been rumors that he may go to a Middle Eastern team, information on his future home is still scant.
In a statement to reporters, Iniesta expressed his desire to continue playing football and acknowledged that he feels capable of contributing on the pitch. He stated, “I want to keep playing football. I feel like I am capable of still playing. But as this chapter closes, we’ll see what’s possible. I want to finish my career on the pitch playing, and this is what I’m hoping to do. [But] I have to tell you the truth, I don’t know.”
Iniesta also expressed his thanks for Vissel Kobe’s warm welcome and emphasized his pride in giving his all while being a member of the team, both on and off the field.
Andrés Iniesta, largely recognized as one of the best midfielders of his time, had a distinguished career with Barcelona, where he helped the team win a staggering 30 trophies. He left Barcelona and relocated to Japan, where he continued to succeed by winning the Emperor’s Cup in 2019 and the Japanese Super Cup with Vissel Kobe in 2020. On July 1 at Noevir Stadium, Iniesta will play his farewell game for Vissel Kobe against Consadole Sapporo.
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