Celtic hero Kyogo Furuhashi sent a message to Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta this morning after the Spaniard announced his retirement from football.
Kyogo was a teammate of Iniesta at Vissel Kobe and won the J League, Japanese Cup and Japanese Super Cup during his time at the club.
Indeed, such was Iniesta’s influence over the Japanese striker, Kyogo once admitted that the Spaniard gave him the confidence to join Celtic back in 2021.
And not that Iniesta is hanging up his playing boots, the 29-year-old sent his former teammate a heartfelt message on social media.
Celtic’s Kyogo ‘will never forget’ his bond with Andres Iniesta
Iniesta left Barcelona in 2018 to join Vissel Kobe when Kyogo was just 23 years old. The Celtic striker played alongside Iniesta for 111 games before he made the move to Glasgow but it is clear from this message, he enjoyed a close bond with his former teammate.
Kyogo said, “It seemed short but it was long, intense and special time. Being able to play together, sharing the time together
“My precious days that I experienced so many things and improved myself I never forget these and will never do. I really appreciate it. Thank you.”
Iniesta previously said that Kyogo was a player who he enjoyed a ‘good connection’ with during his time in Japan so it is clear that there is a close bond between the two players.
Andres Iniesta’s appearances against Celtic
Iniesta now hangs up his boots on a career that has spanned 24 years. During that time the Spaniard won nine La Liga titles, six Copa Del Rey’s, five Spanish Super Cups, four Champions League titles, one UEFA Super Cup and one FIFA World Club Cup just with Barcelona.
Iniesta also won the 2010 World Cup and the Euros in 2008 and 2012 with Spain as he etched his name in the world footballing annuls.
However, despite his prominence in Spain, Iniesta also faced Celtic with Barcelona in the Champions League and the UEFA Cup on seven different occasions.
Unfortunately for the Hoops, Iniesta was victorious five times with Celtic beating Barcelona just once and drawing the other with the midfielder in the team.
That famous night at Celtic Park saw a patch-up Neil Lennon team defeat the Catalan giants 2-1 in one of the most famous European wins in Celtic’s history in which Iniesta scored.
Football will be a poorer place without the former Barcelona man but hopefully, Iniesta will continue to work in the game as he outlined a plan to look at getting into coaching.
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