Bojan Krkic (31) was without a club for more than seven months last year before the attacker found a new club in Vissel Kobe in the summer transfer window. Japan became the seventh country in his career, having previously played professionally for eight different clubs, including Mainz 05 in Germany. As Krkic now explained in an interview with the Spanish newspaper “ASrevealed that an old acquaintance helped with his move to Asia: Andrés Iniesta (37). “One day” he reported to his former teammate.
Both know each other from the days spent together at FC Barcelona, where the duo played 102 games together. “He opened the doors for me,” said Krkic, who received a “recommendation” for a change from his former team-mate. After the exchange with Iniesta, Krkic started talks with the Japanese club, who showed an interest in attacking in their search for reinforcements. “They contacted me on a Thursday and I had to reply the following Monday. It all happened very quickly,” said the Spaniard, who signed a contract with his new club until January 2023 and met there alongside Iniesta, Sergi Samper (27), another ex-Barça professional.
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“Meeting people you already know makes it easier to adjust to a country as different as Japan,” said Krkic, who played for CF Montréal in Major League Soccer before signing with Vissel Kobe. “I came from Canada and to go to Japan, with the cultural and professional changes that entailed, I had to feel accompanied.” That’s why Krkic previously turned down another club from the J1 League, “because I’ve had a lot of experience and I know what it’s like to be alone in a foreign country.” After Europe and North America, Asia is the third continent where the attacking player is active.
Mostly short appearances: Krkic at Vissel Kobe mostly only jokers
So far, the right foot has not gotten beyond the joker role. Krkic only made brief appearances last season before missing the end of the season with a thigh injury. On the first day of the new season, which started on Saturday, the attacker was only a substitute again. His current market value is 700,000 euros, which is the lowest level in his career.
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