Iniesta to Japan, Messi to UAE instead of Miami, USA

Midfielder Andres Iniesta is headed to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after leaving Japanese professional soccer’s Vissel Kobe.

The Emirates Club of the UAE posted a video on social media on Monday (Aug. 8) showing Iniesta greeting club officials in the country.

On Instagram, the club posted a photo of Iniesta and his children smiling with club scarves around their necks, with the caption “Welcome. Iniesta,” he wrote.

The club has yet to officially announce Iniesta’s arrival.

“The two sides have signed a contract in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, which runs until June 2024, with an option for a one-year extension,” said Fabrizio Romano, a journalist familiar with the transfer market who works for Britain’s Guardian.

The most talked-about destination for Iniesta, who ended his five-year association with Kobe in July, was the Major League Soccer (MLS).

Lionel Messi, the “God of Soccer” who led Spanish giants Barcelona to their glory days, plays for Inter Miami in the MLS.

At the press conference to announce his farewell to Kobe on May 25, Iniesta made it clear that “playing time” was his top priority.

“I want to keep playing (as long as I can) and then I want to retire, but it’s hard to do that in Kobe,” Iniesta said at the time. I want to find a place where I can finally retire,” he said.

Iniesta, who joined Kobe in 2018 from Barcelona, led the club to the Japan Cup title in 2019 and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL) quarterfinals in 2020.메이저놀이터

Prior to joining Kobe, Iniesta spent 16 seasons with Spanish soccer giants Barcelona, winning nine league titles and four UEFA Champions League titles.

In his final appearance for Spain at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, he scored the winning goal in the final against the Netherlands.