Iniesta, a four-time champion of the Champions League, World Cup, and Euros, is about to join Emirates FC, a freshly promoted team. The team has previously been demoted from the UAE Pro League's first division for the 2021–2022 season. However, it did not take them long, and after only one season, the team was back in the top flight.
The Spaniard was reported to be reunited with FC Barcelona colleagues Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets, but instead chose to transfer to the UAE.
Andrés Iniesta will sign for Emirates Club FC on a one-year contract with an option for a second, per @FabrizioRomano pic.twitter.com/6nFVpLL83L
— B/R Football (@brfootball) August 7, 2023
Iniesta moved to Vissel Kobe in Japan after leaving FC Barcelona, where he played for the team for 134 appearances. During his five-year stay with the club, he scored 26 goals and assisted 25.
During his time at Vissel Kobe, Iniesta won two titles for the team. In 2019, he won the Japanese Cup, and in 2020, he won the Japanese Super Cup. The famous midfielder also made a one-off appearance in the AFC Champions League and scored a goal. But, regrettably, for Indian fans, he has never played for an Indian club.
Iniesta's tenure at Vissel Kobe was not as straightforward as it appears. He had a serious injury as he got close to retiring, missing four months of play after damaging the rectus femoris muscle in his right leg. The player made his debut in the AFC Champions League against the Suwon Bluewings of South Korea. He returned but opted to relocate to the UAE.
Midway through the season, Iniesta decided to leave the squad after making six appearances for them. He has been sighted in the UAE and is set to sign for Emirates Team FC soon.