Just when it seemed like Barcelona’s pre-season tour had fallen apart, the story took another dramatic turn. A whirlwind 48 hours have seen the club cancel and then resurrect plans to face Vissel Kobe, plunging players, fans, and staff into a state of flux. What seemed like a summer setback is now suddenly back on track — but not without unresolved questions.
The Blaugrana had been preparing for their summer debut under manager Hansi Flick, with the friendly against Vissel Kobe in Japan originally scheduled as the curtain-raiser. But on Thursday morning, the club officially canceled the match, citing “serious contractual breaches on behalf of the promoter.”
According to Sport, the issue revolved around “unpaid logistical and contractual obligations,” triggering the suspension of the match and the team’s travel plans. Staff had reportedly begun considering alternatives, including a friendly against a Catalan lower-division side, to fill the void.
“FC Barcelona regrets this incident and the impact it will have on the many, many Barça fans in Japan,” the club stated. Players were sent back to the training ground, and confusion swirled over what the next move would be.
Enter Rakuten — and a last-minute revival
Then came the unexpected twist. Rakuten, the Japanese e-commerce giant and former Barça shirt sponsor, stepped in at the eleventh hour, reportedly covering a $5.8 million shortfall to resolve the financial dispute between the club and the local promoters. As a result, Barcelona reversed course and decided to continue with the trip to Japan.
“Rakuten fulfilled the agreed payments, and the team is set to depart for Japan between Thursday and Friday,” reported Sport.
The quick U-turn has Barcelona scrambling to reassemble logistics. Flight bookings were reactivated, players were told to remain on standby, and Jijantes reported that a departure at 10:00 PM local time on Thursday was being arranged.
Bigger picture still unclear
If the trip does go ahead, Barcelona’s match against Vissel Kobe is set for Sunday, July 27. Hansi Flick is expected to take an extended 30-man squad, including several academy players, alongside marquee names like Lamine Yamal, Marcus Rashford, Robert Lewandowski, and Raphinha.
The Catalans’ pre-season schedule remains precarious and loosely mapped. The club still has fixtures planned in South Korea, including matches against FC Seoul (July 31) and Daegu FC (August 4). However, “readjusting the leg of the summer tour in South Korea” is reportedly on the table if the Japan leg falls through again.
This entire saga underscores the fragility of high-profile pre-season tours, where commercial partnerships and logistical hurdles often collide with on-field ambitions. As one source close to the club told Jijantes, “Everything can change by the hour.”
AloJapan.com