The 2010 World Cup winners Iniesta made a move to Japan earlier this year in May following a magnificent career with boyhood club Barcelona. on Saturday, Iniesta scored a sensational goal to register his first in Japan.

Iniesta was assisted by former Arsenal forward and an ex-German international Lukas Podolski.

Podolski slid the ball through to Iniesta in the penalty area and the 34-year-old displayed all his trademark intelligence to pirouette past an Iwata defender before rounding the goalkeeper to roll the ball into the net.

Iniesta’s goal was their opener in the 16th minute and a further goal from forward Kyogo Furuhashi secured the victory.

Kobe moved up to fourth place as they look to close the gap on J-League leaders Hiroshima Sanfreece, who beat Nagasaki to maintain an eight-point lead over Tokyo FC in second.

On the other hand, Torres failed to find the back of the net for Sagan Tosu, although the struggling team did secure a 1-0 victory over Urawa Red Diamonds in their battle against relegation.

FC Barcelona took to Twitter to acknowledge the brilliant goal by their legend and posted a video captioning it “Always a class act”.

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Iniesta’s Far East move will have been noted by players who might hitherto have considered China a more lucrative destination, Perryman told AFP in an interview.

“As soon as a top player like Iniesta decides to go to Japan it becomes an option for other people,” said the former Tottenham Hotspur captain, who coached at J-League clubs S-Pulse and Kashiwa Reysol between 1996 to 2002.

“It gives the J-League credibility but it’s about what Iniesta brings with him in terms of his ethos and work ethic,” added Perryman.

“You want people to lead in the right manner and history tells you that this man does things the right way.”

Perryman moved to Japan in 1996 as assistant coach to Argentine Ossie Ardiles at S-Pulse.

The former Spurs teammates briefly crossed swords with Arsene Wenger — then manager at Nagoya Grampus Eight — in a fledgling J-League still buzzing after its launch in 1993 when the likes of Zico and Gary Lineker played out their careers there.

“It was a league that was looking to be led and the timing for both Wenger and Japan was brilliant,” recalled Perryman, who took over as Shimizu manager in 1999.

“Wenger was perfect. He was a winner.”

– Big in Japan –

Perryman expects Iniesta to have as big an impact as the Frenchman on a J-League that has struggled to attract marquee players in recent years.

“Football is about risk, but I’m sure Iniesta will repay Kobe with his professional attitude,” said the 66-year-old director of football at English fourth-tier club Exeter City.

“It has to be backed up by success but I expect the other clubs are looking at that now and asking if they should enter the race for players of this quality.”

Vissel, whose billionaire owner Hiroshi Mikitani is also the CEO of Barcelona’s main sponsor Rakuten, did sign German World Cup winner Lukas Podolski last year.

But bringing in Iniesta bucks the trend of top players moving to rich Chinese clubs in the twilight of their careers in spectacular fashion.

“There’s expertise in Japan but you need expertise on the field itself for Japanese players to be able to follow,” said Perryman, backing Iniesta’s experience and professionalism to rub off on his new teammates.

“You’re looking for his attitude at training and in preparing for games,” added Perryman, who steered S-Pulse to an Asian Cup Winners Cup title.

“Not just finish training, shower and be gone in five minutes. Be part of it. That’s obviously what they’ve done at Barcelona.

“That is a group of players that plays together and Iniesta wants that in his next club. But I’m sure that’s part of the decision-making by Kobe to know that.”

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