Rashford in Barça squad as club confirm Japan friendly | OneFootball

Barcelona have confirmed that their first-team squad is travelling to Japan to begin their 2025 Asian Tour, following the resolution of contractual issues that had initially forced the club to suspend the opening fixture.

The announcement was made via the club’s official channels, confirming that the match against Vissel Kobe on 27 July will now take place as originally planned. The squad will then continue on to South Korea, where they are scheduled to face FC Seoul on 31 July and Daegu FC on 4 August.

The confirmation marks a welcome reversal after days of uncertainty. Earlier this week, Barcelona had issued a statement citing serious breaches by the tour promoter and announced the suspension of the Japan leg of the tour. However, the club now states that those issues have been resolved satisfactorily, allowing the pre-season schedule to proceed in full. This decision ensures that manager Hansi Flick can move forward with his pre-season plans as intended, preserving the structure and competitive rhythm of the summer campaign.

Adding further excitement to the announcement was a tweet from Barcelona’s Spanish-language account, which included Marcus Rashford among the players travelling to Asia.

Rashford’s involvement represents a major coup for Barcelona, both in sporting and commercial terms. The forward, who has already been seen training with the squad, is expected to feature prominently during the tour, with fans eagerly anticipating his debut in the Blaugrana shirt. His inclusion also gives the Asian fixtures an added layer of star appeal, boosting the club’s global profile as they prepare for the upcoming season.

For Barcelona, the resolution of the promoter dispute and the high-profile addition of Rashford bring a sense of momentum at a crucial time. With the full pre-season itinerary now confirmed and key players ready to feature, the club is set to move forward with confidence as preparations for the 2025–26 campaign continue in earnest.

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