Andres Iniesta Travels to Japan For Vissel Kobe vs Inter Miami & Reunite With Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba & Sergio Busquets

Is Inter Miami facilitating another FC Barcelona reunion? Yes. Well, not via a new signing, but through an upcoming friendly match. Barcelona legend and former Vissel Kobe midfielder Andres Iniesta will be on the courtside when Vissel Kobe takes on Inter Miami in a friendly on Thursday. This comes after rumors of Miami canceling the friendly because of their captain Lionel Messi’s injury concerns. As the friendly still stands, Iniesta and his family will fly to Tokyo to reunite with his pals on both the Vissel Kobe and Inter Miami sides. “On the way to Japan Excited to be back at such a special place for us to experience this great match,” Iniesta wrote on his Instagram post.

In the same post with his family from the airport, the Barcelona legend added, “Thrilled to be able to experience a great game at a special place for our grandchildren. Looking forward to meeting up with good friends in Tokyo again,” referring to his reunion with ex-Barca icons Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba. While the veteran midfielder can link up with Messi and Suarez, it is quite unsure if the two will play for Inter Miami. Both of the Miami forwards missed the club’s winning campaign against Hong Kong XI.

Leo Messi reportedly has a hamstring problem and underwent an MRI, before Miami’s outing against Al Nassr. Suarez, on the other hand, has a chronic knee problem. But he has not yet reported picking up an injury or feeling any discomfort in the Herons camp. Anyhow, even if the two won’t play, the Inter Miami-Vissel Kobe match will be one for the books. It brings together another Barca veteran to the scene, as Andres Iniesta eyes a double reunion. In fact, Andres Iniesta could have earlier reunited with his Blaugrana pals at Fort Lauderdale. He was rumored to make a Miami switch even before Suarez.

Andres Iniesta’s early links to Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami

Andres Iniesta left Vissel Kobe in 2023, midway through the Japanese League season. Since Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba immediately followed Messi to the MLS, Iniesta was also expected to do the same. However, he quashed those rumors in August 2023. He joined the UAE Pro League club Emirates on a one-year deal with an option to extend until 2025.

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He remained at the UAE-based club. And it was Luis Suarez who completed Miami’s Barca reunion with a move before the winter transfer window dawned. Iniesta has played 10 matches for Emirates in this season. He has scored two goals and assisted once. The veteran has not yet spoken about his future with Emirates. Only time will tell if he extends his contract or hangs his boots, as he is now 39, in the twilight of his career.

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