Iniesta turned down offer from Messi's Inter Miami to join Emirates Club

In a major boost to the UAE football, legendary Spanish footballer Andres Iniesta has turned down an offer from Inter Miami to join Pro League side Emirates Club.

The World Cup legend arrived in Dubai on Monday to sign a one-year deal with the Ras Al Khaimah club, the 2009-2010 President’s Cup champions.

The veteran playmaker will be officially unveiled in Ras Al Khaimah on Wednesday.

Unconfirmed sources say Iniesta could earn around 8 million euros for one season.

The 39-year-old also has the option of extending his contract to 2025.

Iniesta’s most recent club contract with Japanese J1 League outfit Vissel Kobe was worth 6 million euros per season.

Arriving in the UAE on Monday, Iniesta was greeted by Emirates Club officials and garlanded with a UAE National Day scarf.

He was accompanied by Anna Ortiz, his wife of 12 years, and their four children.

After the end of his five-year Japanese stint in July, the former Barcelona star reportedly received offers to join old teammate Lionel Messi at Inter Miami.

He also had offers from Saudi Arabia. But Iniesta turned his attention to the UAE to join the Ras Al Khaimah club.

Iniesta played club football in Europe for 22 years during which period he was a mainstay of the Barcelona teams that captured historic trebles in 2009 and 2015.

Spanish icon

Such was the adulation for Iniesta that he regularly received standing ovations from rival fans in La Liga matches as a mark of respect for his match-winning goal for Spain in the 2010 World Cup final against the Netherlands.

Remarkably, it was Pep Guardiola, the Manchester City coach, who first saw the spark in a young Iniesta when he got into the senior Barcelona team.

Guardiola was the Barcelona club captain when Iniesta started training with the first team.

Having seen Iniesta's sublime skills, Guardiola famously told Xavi: "This lad (Iniesta) is going to retire us all."

A few years later in 2008, Guardiola returned to Barcelona as head coach and he went on to build a team around Messi, Xavi and Iniesta.

That Barcelona team redefined attacking football with their majestic passing game as Barcelona dominated European football for the next four years.

At international level, Iniesta was a key member of the Spain team that became the first side in history to win three back-to-back major trophies — 2008 Euro, 2010 World Cup and 2012 Euro.

Iniesta would go on to earn the nickname, the ‘magician’, for his extraordinary skills.

Not just his brilliance as a playmaker, Iniesta also remained one of the most admired footballers for his impeccable conduct on and off the field.

• Morocco coach Pedros proud of team as he reveals Olympic ambition