Andres Iniesta of Spain may be 7,000 miles away with his new Japanese team Vissel Kobe, but the residents of the tiny, dusty community he calls home in Spain’s sun-baked La Mancha plateau will not forget him.

Don Andres lives on another continent, yet he visits Fuentealbilla frequently. Literally.

Andres Iniesta’s bronze statue in Fuentealbilla, which resembles the footballer

The statue is located exactly where Andres Iniesta began playing football

Another statue of his World Cup-winning goal can be found on the outskirts of town, outside his winery

The whole village of Fuentealbilla is devoted to its favorite sоn Andres Iniesta

His name is etched in big stone lettering on the exterior of Iniesta’s Barca-themed home. It is housed in a contemporary home on the corner of Andres Iniesta Street.

The 34-year-old midfield master may see a bronze statue of himself winning the World Cup placed just where he used to play football with his buddies as a kid if he stares out any of his large front windows.

A second, similar statue of the Spanish celebrity may be found outside his prosperous winery one and a half miles away.

Iniesta was born and raised in the Castile-La Mancha region of central Spain, in the little community of Fuentealbilla, which was made famous by “Don Quixote.”

Andres was a player that was formidable even when he was just starting out.

Fuentealbilla map with tributes to its favorite sоn, Andres Iniesta

The house of Andres Iniesta is conveniently located on Andres Iniesta Street

Andres Iniesta Street is located in Fuentealbilla, the village where the 1984 World Cup winner was born

“I remember him as a kid playing football here with his friends,” Cayetano, a neighbor, told The Sun from a bar on Andres Iniesta Street.

“He stood out because he controlled the ball so well, dribbled so well, and you could see his intelligence as a player. Everything was there.

“During the holidays, he spends time with his family at his home.

“He goes to the park with his kids after having a Ԁrink at the bar. He’s a straightforward, everyday person.”

Cayetano, like the bulk of the residents, supports Real Madrid because Fuentealbilla is much closer to Madrid than Barcelona.

While watching second-division Albacete Balompie, Barcelona scouts saw the boy’s natural talent, and at the age of 12, he moved north to the legendary La Masia football nursery.

Leaving home was a great wrench in his heart.

When Albacete was in financial turmoil, he placed his personal money into the club.

“The Iniesta family is very important to us,” Albacete supporter Alejandro Fernandez told The Sun.

“We want him to come back here before he quits playing. Or perhaps as the boss. He’d be greeted with a bear hug.”

Cayetano, Andres Iniesta’s next-door neighbor, recalls him as a child playing on the street

Andres Iniesta’s statue is right outside his house, on Andres Iniesta Street

Cayetano, like the bulk of the residents, supports Real Madrid because Fuentealbilla is much closer to Madrid than Barcelona.

While watching second-division Albacete Balompie, Barcelona scouts saw the boy’s natural talent, and at the age of 12, he moved north to the legendary La Masia football nursery.

Leaving home was a great wrench in his heart. When Albacete was in financial turmoil, he placed his personal money into the club.

“Wine has always been a tradition for our family,” Jose Antonio explained, “but we didn’t have enough economic power to set up a winery until Andres entered the world of soccer.”

“Our goal has always been to do what we want without worrying about making money.” But because we’ve been doing things well, we’ve been able to continue growing.

Jesus Gomez, who runs Iniesta’s winery, which now employs 30 full-time employees

Andres Iniesta’s wine business is thriving, producing approximately 1.2 million bottles per year

“We export to 39 countries.” With Andres’ relocation to Japan, we plan to expand even further internationally.”

That goal against Holland was the catalyst for Iniesta’s wine career.

“The winery as we know it today began in 2010 after Andres scored the winning goal in the World Cup,” the winery’s commercial director, Jesus Gomez, told The Sun.

“Andres signed a millionaire contract with Barcelona that year, and he used the money to invest in this area and in his people.”

It has 30 permanent employees and around 100 more during harvest season.

In 2017, over a million bottles of wine were produced, a 500% increase from 2010.

Around 60% of the population travels abroad.

And, of course, Asia is the target market. Specifically, China and Iniesta’s new home, Japan.

When Iniesta signed with Vissel Kobe, his wines quickly sold out in Japan.

After nearly two decades in Barcelona, Andres Iniesta joined Vissel Kobe in Japan

With 131 caps, Iniesta retired from international duty following the World Cup

The family business will benefit greatly from all of this. However, the residents of Fuentealbilla want their beloved son to come back.

Iniesta’s grandfather, Andres Lujan, owns a bar where fans may watch games on a giant screen exclusively on the days that his grandson plays football. Every square inch of the establishment is plastered in memorabilia and press clippings about Iniesta.

“His family has always been with him,” Andres Senior said.

“We took him to Albacete for four years, and every time he played, we were all so proud of him.”

“We always thought he’d get to where he did.

“It’s far too early to tell if Andrés is content in Japan. He requires at least a year.”

Another tribute to Andres Iniesta may be found in this tiny rural village: a replica of the World Cup mounted on a plinth with a press cutting sealed beneath honoring his winning goal.

Another monument in the village commemorates Spain’s 2010 World Cup victory, in which Iniesta scored the game-winning goal

In the 2010 World Cup final, Andres Iniesta scored the game-winning goal against Holland

At the age of eight, the road that led to that trophy started on these streets and took approximately an hour to reach Albacete, the closest large town.

The five-hour travel to Barcelona in the north followed when the boy was 12 years old. Seor Lujan traveled with his grandson at all times. On the other hand, Andres junior is now 7,000 miles away.

Fuentealbilla’s favored sоn Iniesta is the World Cup winner

According to his grandfather: “They say it’s a long way.

“It’s too far for my wife and me to travel to see him there. We’re far too old. But perhaps we will. Who can say?

“Anyway. He enjoys returning here because it is a very quiet town, he has family and friends here, and he has a good time.”