A 180-degree turn

What seemed like a canceled tour has been salvaged at the last minute. According to Jijantes, FC Barcelona will indeed travel to Japan, although it’s still undecided whether the team will fly out this evening or early tomorrow. Most signs point to a departure will happen today.

Just hours earlier, the club had announced the cancellation of the friendly against Vissel Kobe, citing a "serious breach by the promoter." Even the CEO of the organizing group issued a public apology. However, by midday Thursday, the squad had left the Joan Gamper training complex, unsure whether they’d need to return later for the airport transfer.

Rakuten, the key to the reversal

The plot twist appears to have a name: Rakuten. According to Jijantes, the Japanese company may have stepped in to cover the logistical costs and save the match. As a result, Barça sticks to its original plan and will now face Vissel Kobe this Sunday at 12:00 PM, kicking off their summer preseason schedule.

The trip won’t happen as early as initially planned, but all indications suggest the team will depart between Thursday evening and Friday morning. An official confirmation from the club is still pending as details are finalized at the last minute.

The tour is back on… and Flick prepares his list

The cancellation had progressed so far that the coaching staff was already exploring an alternative friendly against a lower-tier Catalan side. But with the Japan trip now back on, Hansi Flick will need to announce his squad for the Asian tour.

The German manager’s original plan was to bring 26 players, including several academy youngsters. The match against Vissel Kobe will mark Flick’s unofficial debut as Barça manager in what promises to be the start of a new era for the club.