The midfielder has not shared where he will be playing next and speculation is rife.
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Who is Andrés Iniesta?
Andrés Iniesta Luján was born on May 11, 1984 in Fuentealbilla, Spain.
He is a professional football player who plays for Vissel Kobe, a J1 league club.
He has played for Vissel Kobe since 2018. He transferred to this team from Barcelona.
He had played for Barcelona since 1996. First in the youth squad from 1996 – 2001.
He was then promoted to the Barcelona reserves team where he played from 2001 – 2003.
He made his debut for the main Barcelona team in 2002 and stayed with the club until 2018.
During his time with Barcelona, he played an integral part in the historic trebles in 2009 and 2015.
He won a total of 35 trophies, including nine LaLigas and four UEFA Championship League titles.
He was named as the most decorated Spanish football player of all time.
What happened to Andrés Iniesta?
Iniesta announced that he would be leaving Vissel Kobe in July 2023, midway through the J1 season.
In an emotional press conference on Thursday, 25 May 2023, he announced his exit from the club and that he planned to keep playing football, although gave no clues as to where.
After only playing three games in league games and twice in cup games, he has been forced to leave.
When asked about where he will play next he said: “I have to tell you the truth, I don’t know.”
It has been rumoured that a return to Barcelona FC was on the cards but this has not been confirmed.
He said: “As I have said many times, I would love to return to Barcelona at some point in my life, but I still think it is far away. I want to keep playing football.
“I feel like I am capable of still playing. But as this chapter closes, we’ll see what’s possible. I want to finish my career on the pitch playing, and this is what I’m hoping to do.”
Is Andrés Iniesta married and does he have any children?
Andrés married Anna Ortiz on July 8, 2012, after four years of dating.
The couple share five children together, two daughters, born in 2011 and 2017, and two sons, born in 2015 and 2019.
The couple sadly lost a child, a son, in 2014 after complications during the pregnancy.
The couple then surprised the world and welcomed their fifth child, a girl, in February 2023.