Former Barcelona midfielder and club legend Andres Iniesta opened up about his personal life during an interview with The Athletic. He also talked about his life after leaving Barcelona, along with his opinions on current Barça veterans such as Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
Iniesta, who currently plies his trade for Vissel Kobe, has been living in Japan for more than four years. When asked about his decision to move to the Asian country, the midfielder responded, “There is another type of life there (in Japan) that allows you to think about other things. I am also older now than when I was here (in Barcelona).”
“That was the right decision. I had to take it. I was happy and convinced that it was the right moment. And time has, fortunately, shown me that I was correct. It was the right decision on a sporting level and on a family level,” he further explained.
Since joining Vissel Kobe in 2018, Iniesta has featured in 128 competitive matches. But the veteran admits his playing days are getting over sooner rather than later. “My career as a player is winding down. And everything outside has a lot of importance,” he said.
Iniesta, though, clarified his state of mind since leaving Barcelona, adding, “I would not say I am happier now, as here too in Barcelona I was the happiest guy in the world.
“In the end, everyone looks for, or at least I look for, balance in all senses: doing things that you like surrounded by the people you love, and being able to enjoy them. For all this, there are also many professionals who can help you to find that line, and from there, to work on it.”
On that note, Iniesta offered his thoughts on Gerard Pique managing his business and professional career.
“If you can find that balance we were talking about, and one thing does not hamper the other. Well, it is always welcome. Although, the job of being an elite player demands that you focus practically everything on football. People can find a way to combine these things, but everyone has to know where the limits are,” Iniesta said.
Pique announced his retirement from professional football at the end of last year. When asked whether other veterans such as Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba will follow suit, Iniesta appeared rather coy.
“I am aware that they have already given a lot from their side to the club. The situation of the club, and of every individual, I do not know, so there is little I can say,” he said.
The Spaniard also revealed his disappointment following Barcelona’s shocking 8-2 defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich, adding, “You feel bad when you see team-mates and your team suffer, when things are not going well. You know that those inside suffer the most, but those of us outside suffer too, in a different way.”
The midfielder went on to talk about his personal life, including the affect of his close friend Dani Jarque’s death, along with the death of his son in 2014.
“I felt like I was in freefall, like everything had gone dark, I couldn’t take it anymore. I did get support,” he said about Jarque. “It is very important that your club or the people who are closest to you understand the situation and are aware that it is not easy to take on, and above all that they support you.”
“In the end, we are all people and the personal situation of each one has an effect,” Iniesta added when asked about his son’s death in 2014. “You try for it to have the smallest effect possible on what is your job and your performance. You try to surround yourself with professionals who help you in difficult situations.”
“Bit by bit, there is more talk about the normal things that can happen to a footballer, or to any player, during their lives. And that is positive — for people to talk about things, for us all to be aware of it,” Iniesta added.
Finally, the veteran offered his thoughts on the season ahead for Vissel Kobe. “We have had a bit of everything over the years. Last season we suffered a lot in the league. In football, you always have to demand the maximum from yourself, so that each year can be the best,” he said.