<p>Juan Mata, a former midfielder for Spain and Manchester United, joined Andres Iniesta’s old Japanese side Vissel Kobe on Sunday and immediately set his eyes on the J-League championship.</p>
<p>Mata, a 2010 World Cup champion with Spain, has joined Kobe after leaving Galatasaray of Turkey in the summer.</p>
<p>Iniesta joined Kobe in 2018 from Barcelona and departed in July after five years.<img decoding=”async” class=”alignnone wp-image-158716″ src=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/theindiaprint.com-check-out-the-predicted-teams-for-india-vs-nepal-in-the-asia-cup-2023-probable-xis-download-2023-09-03t175938.973.jpg” alt=”theindiaprint.com check out the predicted teams for india vs nepal in the asia cup 2023 probable xis download 2023 09 03t175938.973″ width=”1312″ height=”958″ srcset=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/theindiaprint.com-check-out-the-predicted-teams-for-india-vs-nepal-in-the-asia-cup-2023-probable-xis-download-2023-09-03t175938.973.jpg 263w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/theindiaprint.com-check-out-the-predicted-teams-for-india-vs-nepal-in-the-asia-cup-2023-probable-xis-download-2023-09-03t175938.973-150×110.jpg 150w” sizes=”(max-width: 1312px) 100vw, 1312px” title=”Juan Mata Seeking Awards With Vissel Kobe After Switching To The J-League 6″></p>
<p>During his tenure in Japan, Iniesta was unable to help the Vissel win their first J-League championship, but as soon as Mata was introduced by the team, he set his sights on the hardware.</p>
<p>The 35-year-old told reporters, “I will do my best to help the team win this trophy with the aim of winning the first league for Vissel Kobe.”</p>
<p>To add another trophy to my collection, maybe the first of many in Japan.</p>
<p>With less than 10 games left in the season, Vissel, who play later on Sunday, are now second in the J-League, one point behind the reigning champions Yokohama F-Marinos.</p>
<p>Iniesta won the local Emperor’s Cup in Japan in 2019 and guided Vissel to the Asian Champions League semifinals in 2020.</p>
<p>David Villa, a former colleague of Iniesta and Mata who won the World Cup, also spent one season in 2019 playing for Kobe.</p>
<p>Mata said that the two had only had positive things to say about the club.</p>
<p>“I feel really proud to sign for Vissel Kobe, a club where great players and great friends that I admire — Andres Iniesta, David Villa — have played,” the player stated.</p>
<p>“I’m extremely proud to follow in this nation’s footsteps.”</p>
<p>Before joining Manchester United two years after winning the Champions League with Chelsea, Mata established himself at Valencia.</p>
<p>After leaving Galatasaray, he has been without a club.</p>
