Iniesta presented by Vissel Kobe in front of 8,000 fans
The Spain international will now turn his attention to this summer's World Cup
Andres Iniesta was presented as a Vissel Kobe in front of more than 8,000 supporters on Saturday in Japan.
The Spanish international appeared for the first time dressed fully in the Japanese side's kit with his legendary No.8 on his back two days after signing his contract with the club.
Inside the stadium there were banners, written in Spanish, to receive him. "Bienvenido (Welcome), Andres Iniesta," read one of them.
Iniesta, addressing the supporters, said: "Thanks for such a warm welcome. In these two days I have spent in Japan I have been shown so much affection and I am very grateful."
Another message among the supporters read "A magician is coming to Kobe" and another simply said "Infinit Iniesta," the slogan used by Barça to bid farewell to the midfielder.
He added: "I'm looking forward to working hard and to learning, to helping Vissel improve and to helping the club aspire to [win] the Japanese league and the Asian Champions League."
The owner of Vissel, Hiroshi Mikitani, who is also the owner of Barça's sponsor Rakuten, said: "With the arrival of Iniesta, the level of the Japanes league will undoubtedly improve, as will the popularity of football among children."
Iniesta will now return to Spain to begin preparing for the World Cup in Russia this summer before returning to Kobe to start a new adventure.
