Barcelona could welcome at least one of their legends back to Camp Nou this summer, if not Lionel Messi. The Catalans’ iconic midfielder Andres Iniesta could make a comeback to the club, since leaving back in 2018 for Japanese side Vissel Kobe. Iniesta spent over two decades at Barcelona, making his way to the first-team through the club’s famous academy La Masia.
The 38-year-old went on to make a massive 674 appearances for the Catalans, scoring 57 goals and racking up 138 assists. He also lifted every trophy there was to during his club career at Barcelona, winning 32 titles which included 4 Champions Leagues. However, he chose to pass on the troch to the next generation in 2018, leaving Europe for Japan.
Barcelona to offer coaching role to Andres Iniesta
According to El Nacional, Andres Iniesta is planning to terminate his contract with Vissel Kobe and return to his homeland of Spain. The midfielder still has two years left on his current deal with the J-League side, but has decided to let go of the same. The report from Nacional adds, the midfielder is disappointed over the fans targeting him for the club’s dire situation.
Vissel Kobe are languishing at the bottom of the table, fighting relegation and have already been eliminated from the Asian Champions League. The club’s fans are unhappy with the veteran midfielder and have turned against him. As a result, Iniesta wants to put a premature end to his stint in Japan, after scoring 26 goals and assisting 25 in 126 appearances for Vissel Kobe.
On the other hand, Barcelona are waiting for their club legend to return and take up a coaching role in their youth ranks. The club plans to rest the responsibilities of training their youth side, along with carrying out some activities for the club with the former Spain international.
Iniesta is a mastermind of the game and hence can easily fit into a coaching role. Moreover, with his friend and once a partner on the pitch Xavi at the helm of Barca’s first-team, the two can certainly work together to bring back the glory days for the club. Andres Iniesta is one of those rare players who has completed football, having won every club trophy, along with the FIFA World Cup and UEFA EURO [twice] with Spain.
With Iniesta’s return on the cards, Barcelona will then plan for their all-time top scorer Lionel Messi’s homecoming next summer. They have already confessed of carving out a plan to bring Leo back who left the club last summer after financial difficulties disallowed him to continue with the Catalans.