May 25, (THEWILL) – Iconic Spanish midfielder, Andres Iniesta, has announced that he will not be hanging up his boots after bidding farewell to J1 League team, Vissel Kobe, this week.
The 39-year-old footballer had entered his sixth season with the Japanese club but struggled to secure significant playing time this campaign, making only three brief appearances in the team’s 14 matches, resulting in a mere 38 minutes on the pitch. During a press conference confirming his departure from Vissel Kobe, Iniesta confirmed his desire to continue his professional football career.
He said, “I want to keep playing football. I feel confident in my abilities to continue. As this chapter closes, we will explore what opportunities lie ahead. My aspiration is to end my career on the field, playing the game that I love. That is my ultimate goal, and I am hopeful of achieving it.”
Reflecting on his departure, he expressed his emotions, saying: “It’s a very sentimental day after spending so many years here. I always strived to give my best both on and off the pitch, and I take immense pride in that.”
Iniesta was later questioned about the possibility of returning to Barcelona in some capacity. He responded: “As I have mentioned on numerous occasions, I would love to come back to Barcelona at some point in my life. However, I believe that such a return is still a distant prospect.”
The legendary player, who enjoyed a fruitful 16 seasons at Camp Nou, may have the chance to don the Barcelona jersey once more on June 6. Talks are underway to arrange a scenario where the World Cup winner would play one half for Vissel Kobe and the other for his former club, Barcelona, allowing him to bid farewell to the sport in a befitting manner.
