Vissel owner Yuki Chifu wanted to send a message to Andres Iniesta hours after he announced his retirement from professional football. The Japanese highlighted the impact of Spanish midfielder in making the Japanese League known to others who stepped on it later.
“For five years he contributed a lot not only to the club, but to Japanese football,” Chifu recalled in a statement released where he reviewed the titles won by the club from 2018 to 2023, seasons in which the Spanish played in the archipelago.
“For me personally, Iniesta's performances have been a great inspiration. His plays are still fresh in my memory,” the president said, adding that his help, as a world-class player, was able to attract new fans to the Japanese League.
The club official highlighted his “humble” personality, despite being “one of the best players in the world,” and his “respect” for teammates and fans alike.