What appeared to be a summer obstacle is now suddenly back on course — but not without lingering doubts.
Just as it appeared likeBarcelonaThe pre-season tour had collapsed, and the story took another dramatic turn.A fast-paced 48 hours have witnessed the club cancel and then revive plans to play against Vissel Kobe, throwing players, supporters, and personnel into a period of uncertainty. What appeared to be a summer obstacle is now suddenly back in motion — but not without lingering doubts.
The Catalan team had been getting ready for their summer debut under manager Hansi Flick, with the friendly against Vissel Kobe in Japan originally set as the opening match. Buton Thursday morning, the club formally called off the game, citing significant violations of the contract by the promoter.
According to Sport, the matter centered onuncompensated logistical and legal responsibilities,causing the match to be suspended and the team’s travel arrangements to be put on hold. Staff had reportedlystarted looking into other options, including a match against a Catalan lower-league team, to fill the emptiness.
FC Barcelona is sorry about this incident and the effect it will have on the numerous Barça supporters in Japan,The club announced. Players were sent back to the training facility, and uncertainty surrounded what the next step would be.
Enter Rakuten — and a sudden resurgence
After that, an unforeseen turn occurred.Rakuten, the Japanese online shopping company and former Barça jersey sponsor, intervened at the last moment., reportedly covering a $5.8 million shortfallto settle the monetary disagreement between the team and the regional organizers. As a result,Barcelona changed its mind and chose to proceed with the journey to Japan..
Rakuten completed the agreed-upon payments, and the team is scheduled to travel to Japan between Thursday and Friday, reported Sport.
The swift U-turn has left Barcelona in a rush to regroup logistics. Flight reservations were reactivated, and players were instructed to stay on alert, andJijantes reported that a exit at10:00 PM in the local time on Thursday was being arranged.
Bigger picture still unclear
If the journey proceeds,The game between Barcelona and Vissel Kobe is scheduled for Sunday, July 27.. Hansi Flick is anticipated to bring a 30-player squad for an extended period, featuring multiple academy prospects along with high-profile players suchLamine Yamal, Marcus Rashford, Robert Lewandowski, and Raphinha.
The schedule of the Catalans for the pre-season remainsprecarious and loosely mapped. The club still has matches scheduled inSouth Korea, featuring games against FC Seoul (July 31) and Daegu FC (August 4). However, reconfiguring the leg of the summer tour in South Koreais reportedly being considered if the Japan leg is canceled once more.
This whole story highlights the vulnerability of high-profile pre-season tours, where business deals and organizational challenges frequently clash with in-game goals. As one insider connected to the club mentionedJijantes, Every moment can bring a transformation.
More must-reads:
- Lamine Yamal outperforms Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius, becoming the most expensive player in history – Here’s his surprising valuation
- First Lamine Yamal receives Lionel Messi’s famous No. 10 jersey — Now loan player Marcus Rashford gets his idol’s number at Barcelona
- Real Madrid’s Rodrygo comes under Barcelona’s attention: Is a major transfer on the horizon? Fabrizio Romano provides a game-changing two-word update
