Football legend Andres Iniesta wished good luck to Sheffield Wednesday’s new signing Ryo Hatsuse.
The 27-year-old left-back joined the Owls after a period on trial with the Championship side.
Previously he played for Japanese top flight club Vissel Kobe where he won the J-League title in 2023 and 2024.
It was at the Japanese club he met Spanish great Iniesta.
The former Barcelona player joined Vissel Kobe in 2018 and stayed for five years until his move to Emirates in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Iniesta made 134 appearances in Japan, registering 26 goals and 25 assists.
Upon Sheffield Wednesday signing his former teammate, he shared a picture of Hatsuse with the Owls head coach Danny Rohl and wrote: “Good luck my friend.”
Rohl told BBC Radio Sheffield that the defender had ‘a passion’ to join the club.
“From the first talk he said he wanted to be a Sheffield Wednesday player,” Rohl said.
“He didn’t talk with me before. He said ‘it’s my dream to come here and play for you’, and his mindset was fantastic to see.
“It’s a good option for us to take him.”
Hatsuse was not named in the squad to face West Bromwich Albion on Saturday so his debut may come against Swansea on Wednesday.
The defender was the third signing for the Championship side following the arrival of Stuart Armstrong and Ibrahim Cissoko.
Upon joining, Hatsuse said: “I have always dreamed of playing in England and I am very thankful to the coach and the chairman for giving me this opportunity.
“As soon as my agent told me that Sheffield Wednesday were interested in me, I wanted to know more about the project.
“This is a big club with ambitions to return to the Premier League and everybody has been so welcoming to me since I arrived. I have a very positive feeling here.
“I can’t wait to get started. I have been watching the Championship a lot recently and know that the level is very high.
“It will be a great challenge for me. There are many Japanese players currently playing in England and everybody has told me it is a fantastic experience to play and live here.”
Rohl’s squad sit eight in the table, two points off a spot in the playoffs.
They have had a rocky start to the new year, being knocked out of the FA Cup against Coventry on penalties and only managing two league wins from seven matches