Iniesta Set To Play For FC Barcelona Again, Join Messi In Saudi Arabia

FC Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta is set to play for the club again but may also join former teammate Lionel Messi in Saudi Arabia, according to SPORT.

The Spaniard announced his departure from current club Vissel Kobe – who he joined in 2018 when stepping away from Camp Nou – by “mutual agreement” on Thursday because of a lack of playing time.

In a press conference to reveal the development, Iniesta reiterated that he “would love to return to Barcelona at some point in my life”, but added that he thinks this is still “far away”.

Though this remark probably alludes to taking up some sort of behind-the-scenes role at the club he joined as a 12-year-old, Iniesta might be seen representing Barca a lot sooner than both he and most fans would imagine.

According to SPORT, the prospect of Iniesta playing a half for FC Barcelona and a half for Vissel Kobe in a friendly at the National Stadium in Tokyo on June 6 has already been tabled.

Talks are underway to create what would be a nostalgic and heart-warming outing for one of the greatest midfielders of all time, which essentially has to be given the green light by his current Japanese employers.

With former midfield partner Xavi Hernandez in the dugout and president Joan Laporta – who must remember Iniesta fondly from his first stint in charge in the mid-to-late 2000s – back behind the wheel, it’s difficult to imagine there would be any objections from the Blaugrana side.

An emotional Iniesta, 38, revealed how he had hoped to retire at Vissel Kobe but will now continue his career elsewhere.

Starring for Barca in the upcoming friendly would allow for a center-of-the-park reunion with Sergio Busquets. Yet also according to SPORT, Iniesta has an offer on the table from the same Saudi club Al-Hilal which is looking to snatch away other ex-Barca locker room colleagues of his in Messi and Jordi Alba, plus Busquets.

Busquets and Alba have already announced their departures on June 30. This is the same date that Messi becomes a free agent at Paris Saint Germain, and while Barca are working hard to have him return for a second stint in their colors, El Chiringuito has already reported that Messi, Busquets, and Alba have accepted offers from Al-Hilal.

Messi’s father and agent Jorge Messi has released a statement denying there is an agreement in place with any club. This week, though, Beteve reported that he is pushing his son towards taking the big money – some €350 million ($375.5 million) a year according to El Chiringuito – in the Middle East with his wish set to be obeyed by the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.

If Messi accepts the proposal from Al-Hilal, he should automatically top Forbes’ list of the World’s Highest-Paid Athletes in 2024. In the latest edition published earlier this month, he finished second and $6 million behind leader and generational rival Cristiano Ronaldo with $130 million split evenly on-field and off-field.