Iniesta Excited by Japan Challenge, Hopes to Boost League's Standing

TOKYO, Japan, -May 24: Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta said he wants to help grow the J-League after signing for Vissel Kobe on Thursday. The 34-year-old, a four-time UEFA Champions League winner with Barca and a World Cup winner with Spain, was unveiled by the Japanese club at a press conference at a Tokyo hotel. "This is a very important challenge for me and my career. Hopefully the J-League will spread in Asia and I'd like to help with that," Iniesta said. The Spaniard was presented by Vissel chairman Hiroshi Mikitani, who is also CEO of online shopping giant Rakuten Inc., the current shirt sponsor of Barcelona. Iniesta, who won nine La Liga titles and three Club World Cups in his 22 years at Barcelona, said "Japan is a great country and has a great culture." The midfielder, who is in Spain's 23-man squad for the World Cup finals in Russia in June and July, is believed to have agreed a three-year contract worth around $30 million a year. Iniesta, who scored the winning goal in the 2010 World Cup final, said he respected Japanese football and the country's players "are of really high quality." Vissel signed Lukas Podolski last year, although the former Germany international is out until the end of June due to a calf injury. The club are currently sixth in the J-League first-division.