Andres Iniesta posts picture from hospital bed with £430,000-a-week ex-Barca star out for four months after leg surgery

BARCELONA legend Andres Iniesta shared a picture from his hospital bed after undergoing surgery on a thigh injury. The Spanish midfielder, 36, now plays for Vissel Kobe in Japan and will be out of action for four months but said the operation was a “success and I am feeling very well”. The 2010 World Cup […]

BARCELONA legend Andres Iniesta shared a picture from his hospital bed after undergoing surgery on a thigh injury.

The Spanish midfielder, 36, now plays for Vissel Kobe in Japan and will be out of action for four months but said the operation was a “success and I am feeling very well”.

The 2010 World Cup final hero ruptured a muscle in his quad playing in his side’s Asian Champions League last 16 win over Shanghai SIPG last week.

Iniesta returned to his home in Barcelona and was operated on by renowned sports surgeon Ramon Cugat.

Cugat regularly treats the Catalan giants’ top players and stars from other European giants, including Manchester City.

In a statement released alongside the image on Twitter, Iniesta said: “Hello everybody, last week in the ACL quarter-final match against Suwon, I broke the rectus femoris of my right leg.

“After many tests, I took the advice of my medical team and we have considered that the best option for me was to get surgery and speed up the recovery.

The surgery has been a success and I am feeling very well.”

Andres Iniesta

“The surgery has been a success and I am feeling very well.

“My objective is to get back on track as soon as possible and enjoy what I like doing the most.

“All my energy is already put into the recovery and the work that lies ahead.

“I want to thank all of you for your kind words, thank Vissel Kobe and the club’s medical services for their support, and especially to Doctor Ramon Cugat and his team.”

Iniesta quit the Nou Camp for Vissel Kobe in 2018 and retired from international duty after the World Cup in the same year.

He has made 74 appearances for the Japanese side – where he earns £430,000 a week – bagging 16 goals and 18 assists.

A Blaugrana icon, Iniesta made 674 appearances for the club and was named in the Uefa fans’ all-time XI.