Chinese Premier League outfit Chongqing Dangdai Lifan are pulling back from claims of a deal with Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta.

Marca says the Chinese club's president, Jiang Lizhang, has released a statement to cast concern over the move going through.

The president's statement notes that, while they 'do not rule out what happens in the future' their relationship with Iniesta is based around 'in-depth cooperation between the two parties' which 'does not mean that Iniesta will join the club as a player'.

Meanwhile, Radio Catalunya reports Rakuten owner Hiroshi Mikitani has set about tying up a deal for Iniesta to play for his team in Japan, Vissel Kobe.

Mikitani's company are the chief sponsor of Barcelona.