Midfielder Andrés Iniesta, World and European Champion with the Spanish national team and player for Japan's "Vissel Kobe," has decided to embark on a new adventure in his career by leaving the Japanese league. Iniesta arrived in the United Arab Emirates late Monday in preparation for his new destination.
He will formally announce his joining of the Emirates team, according to photos published by local media upon his arrival at Dubai International Airport. The veteran player was seen wearing a scarf representing his new club, holding flowers, and speaking with several people, as shown in a video shared by Sharjah Sports Channel.
Iniesta's arrival in the UAE comes just hours before his official signing with the club based in Ras Al Khaimah, the sixth largest city in the United Arab Emirates. Initially, Iniesta is expected to sign for one season with an option for an additional year, as reported by transfer market specialist Fabrizio Romano.
Iniesta bid farewell to Vissel Kobe in early July after spending five years with the team, but he later decided to continue his career as a player. The 39-year-old returned to the sports city of Barcelona and trained there for several weeks.
The Spanish star came to Japan from Barcelona, where he won everything, including 9 league titles, 6 Copa del Rey trophies, 4 UEFA Champions League titles, 7 Spanish Super Cups, 3 UEFA Super Cups, and 3 FIFA Club World Cup titles. Iniesta was promoted to Barcelona's first team in the 2002-2003 season and left in the 2017-2018 season, having played a total of 674 matches, scoring 57 goals.
He has participated in 131 matches with the Spanish national team, winning the 2010 World Cup and the European Championship twice (2008 and 2012), with his last match for "La Roja" being on July 1, 2018.
