Andrés Iniesta during his farewell to Vissel Kobe

THE MANCHEGO WAS IN JAPAN FOR FIVE YEARS

The emotional tribute of Vissel Kobe to fire Andrés Iniesta

Published:1/07/2023 - 17:36h

Updated:1/07/2023 - 17:36h

Andrés Iniesta put an end to his time as a Vissel Kobe player this Saturday with an emotional mass bath at the Noeviri Stadium. Accompanied by his family, the man from La Mancha left his future up in the air after the tribute

After 134 official parties in five seasons, Andrés Iniesta sacked officially of the Vissel Kobe this Saturday in the middle of a moving celebrated homage in the Stadium Noevir of Kobe, Japan. The ex mediocentro of the FC Barcelona contested 57 minutes in the tie in front of the Consadole Sapporo (1-1) and left applauded by all the local fans, leaving his place in the field to Daiju Sasaki.

The Sapporo had advanced in the first part with a so much of the Thai Supachok Sarachat, but the Brazilian Matheus Thuler avoided the defeat of the Vissel with a head butt in the 85'. Iniesta was one of the first in celebrating the goal of his already ex team, since with the point added this Saturday attained to retain the third place of the table in it it J-League.

8⃣👏👏👏❤️🤍#visselkobe #ヴィッセル神戸 #iniestaKO8Eforever pic.twitter.com/5kiajcu4o5
— ヴィッセル神戸 (@visselkobe) July 1, 2023

The words of Iniesta after his goodbye to the Vissel

The Japanese fans coreó his name during all the day and the grandstand west of the Stadium Noevir lució a giant banner with the lemma 'Iniesta Ko8and forever', doing allusion to the dorsal used by the one of Fuentealbilla. After the party, the mediocentro appreciated to the club and the fans the affection offered in five years where ensured to live "a beautiful and thrilling trip" after his exit of the Barça in 2018.

"We carry us like lovely memory the affection and the respecto that showed us from the first day in that we arrive here", said beside his family to the local newspaper ' Nikkan Sports'. Besides, it valued his go through a club to the that arrived with the aim to do it bigger. "I seat that I have grown like player and like person since I arrived here. Always I have tried to give the maximum inside and out of the field. I expect that all feel the same pride that I have felt by this team", expressed the manchego.

Iniesta leaves his future in the 'air' and no descarta follow playing

On his future, Andrés left clear that, by the moments, does not have clear which will be his next club, but is almost safe that will follow playing, at least, a year more. "I want to withdraw me playing in the field and am smart to give the following step", commented the ex mediocentro culé. By his part, the Vissel Kobe devoted him a moving audiovisual of farewell.

"We will not forget your magic in the field, the battles that have litigated together, the love that have showed to this city. Arigato. 8racias eternal", expressed the club at the end of the video. Iniesta left of Japan with a total of 26 goals and 25 assistances in 134 official parties in which it could win two titles: the Glass of the Emperor 2019 and the Supercopa Japanese in 2020.