Former Barcelona maestero Andres Iniesta have reportedly decided on his next destination following the expiry of his Vissel Kobe contract back in July of this year. Contrary to rumors linking him to a reunion with both Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets at MLS side Inter Miami, Iniesta instead opted to join newly-promoted United Arab Emirates outfit Emirates Club for the upcoming 2023/24 campaign.
According to both Fernando Polo and Fabrizio Romano – both reputable sources in regards to player transfer – Iniesta is set to pen a contract that lasts until June 2024 with Emirates, who finished 2nd in the UAE First Division League last season to earn promotion back into the UAE Pro League top-flight. The contract itself has an option to extend for another year.
Based in the city of Ras Al Khaimah, Emirates had been known throughout recent years as a yo-yo club of some sorts, going back and forth the top-flight and second-tier on a regular basis. The men in green had never finished beyond 10th place in the Pro League in recent times, however they had won the 2009/10 UAE President Cup, which earned them a spot in the following season’s AFC Champions League group stages despite being relegated back to the First Division.
Emirates had completed the signing of former Al-Ahli Saudi defensive midfielder Franck Kom back in June, while former Vegalta Sendai flop Diogo Acosta spearheads the club’s attacking line and serves as their captain.
Iniesta will join a growing contingent of stars at the UAE Pro League, which includes Sharjah trio Paco Alcacer, Kostas Manolas and Miralem Pjanic, Shabab Al Ahli’s Mu’nas Dabbur, Al Wasl’s Haris Seferovic, Al Nasr duo Adel Taraabt and Manolo Gabbiadini, and Al Jazira’s Alejandro Pozuelo and Neeskens Kebano.