Iniesta becomes big fish in small pond

Tokyo – Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta (right) joined Japan’s Vissel Kobe yesterday, calling his J-League move an “important career challenge”.

“This is a very special day for me,” the 34-year-old World Cup winner said after signing his contract at a glitzy unveiling in Tokyo.

“I had a lot of offers, other clubs showed an interest in me,” added Iniesta, who is reported to have agreed a three-year deal with an annual salary of $30 million, a J-League record.

“But I chose Vissel Kobe because it was an interesting project. There was also a lot of trust and confidence in me as a person and also as a player – that was a big reason.”

Iniesta, who lifted 32 major trophies and made 674 appearances for Catalan giants Barca, was handed his trademark No 8 shirt by Vissel owner Hiroshi Mikitani.

“I am confident that Iniesta’s leadership philosophy and his DNA will be a terrific inspiration for not only Vissel Kobe but Japanese football as a whole,” said Mikitani.

“His arrival in Japan will raise the profile of Japanese football globally. Iniesta will inspire and empower us to reach new heights in football in Japan. We are very proud to see this day come.”

The Spain icon’s decision to choose Kobe arguably represents Japanese football’s biggest transfer coup, with many top players now moving to cash-rich Chinese clubs in the twilight of their careers. –