After Vissel Kobe’s departure, Andres Iniesta Coy about his future plans

Andres Iniesta, a former midfielder for Spain and Barcelona, left Japanese side Vissel Kobe on an emotional note on Saturday, but the 2010 World Cup champion hasn’t indicated where he’ll be playing next.

The 39-year-old concluded his five years in Japan with a 57-minute cameo in a 1-1 tie with Consadole Sapporo, the match in which Spain defeated the Netherlands to win the championship in South Africa in 2010.

Due to a string of ailments that have hampered his participation in the current campaign as Kobe have made a rare push for the J.League championship, this game was Iniesta’s first start in the league this season.

According to Kyodo News, an emotional Iniesta addressed a packed Misaki Park Stadium, “The last few months have been a really tough period for me and those close to me.”

“I’m moving forward in accordance with the emotion that drives me to want to retire and end my playing career.”

Iniesta joined Kobe, a team that is owned by Hiroshi Mikitani, a multibillionaire businessman, in the summer of 2018. He assisted the team in winning their first trophy in 2019 when they beat Kashima Antlers to win the Emperor’s Cup.

The squad presently holds third place in the J.League, two points behind leaders Yokohama F Marinos, and made their debut in the Asian Champions League the season after, reaching the semi-finals.

A few time after Iniesta declared he would be leaving the club, tickets for Saturday’s game were all but sold out.

Iniesta said, “I came here in 2018 to fulfill the promise of making this club large.

“I believe I succeeded in doing that, and I gave all I had both on and off the field. I really hope you share my enthusiasm for this group.