Iniesta to earn £420,000 a week AFTER tax in Japan
Andres Iniesta is on the verge of signing a three-year deal with Japanese club Vissel Kobe, according to various reports.
The Spaniard was expected to join Chinese club Chongqing Lifan when he leaves Barcelona this summer but has now been persuaded to go to Japan and sign a deal worth £22m a season after tax.
Vissel Kobe – where Lucas Podolski is the captain – are a mid-table Japanese club but they are owned by Rakuten, who are Barcelona’s main sponsors.
Vissel Kobe have their 5 foreigner roster spots filled: Jung Woo-young, Lukas Podolski, Leandro, Wellington, and Kim Seung-gyu. Theerathon Bunmathan doesn't count b/c of exception for league partners.
Who leaves to make room for Iniesta?
— Dan Orlowitz (@aishiterutokyo) May 8, 2018
On Monday, Iniesta’s Chinese suitors distanced themselves from a deal, with president Jiang Lizhang saying: “Mr. Iniesta is in deep partnership with sports industrial sectors under our club’s shareholding company, including sports agency, marketing and sales, and youth training.
“We won’t rule out the possibility of deepening future cooperation in the Chinese market, but by no means it indicates that Mr. Iniesta will join our club as a player.”