Vissel Kobe, a team that apparently will play the friendly match with FC Barcelona as part of their 2025/26 preseason Asian tour, has come forward amidst the controversy with a statement to explain its role in this bizarre situation.
The team owned by the company Rakuten —a company known to Barcelona for having been its sponsor for several seasons and which played a key role in this operation, by assuming the economic difference left pending by the Yasuda Group— issued a brief message through its social networks. From this, they began by explaining that they are working hand in hand with all the necessary parties to effectively channel the situation:
"We continue to work closely with all parties involved to gather and coordinate the necessary information about the match against FC Barcelona scheduled for Sunday, July 27, 2025."
Vissel Kobe acknowledges that there is still no definitive information
Beyond that, from Vissel Kobe they also acknowledge that, although they are carrying out all the pertinent steps to bring this situation to fruition as soon as possible, they still cannot offer certainties:
"However, at this time, we are not in a position to provide any definitive information. We will continue to do everything possible for the many fans who eagerly await the match and for everyone involved, so we ask for your understanding."
Message of calm from Vissel Kobe in the face of uncertainty
Finally, the former team of Andrés Iniesta —through which other former Barça players such as David Villa and Sergi Samper also passed— made a call for prudence in this controversial case: "As soon as there is any progress, we will provide updates quickly through our club's official website, etc. We apologize for the inconvenience, but we ask that you please wait a little longer," the statement concludes.
Barcelona was on the verge of canceling its tour of Asia: this is how the friendly was saved
Thus, apparently, the situation surrounding the 2025/26 preseason tour of Asia is beginning to normalize for FC Barcelona. It is worth remembering that the culé team had been reluctant to travel to Japan due, as reported in a statement, due to a serious breach of contract by those in charge of organizing this friendly commitment.
Subsequently, the company responsible for the arrangements for this duel, D-DRIVE, also issued an institutional note to support Barça and clarify that, in reality, the fault did not lie with them, but rather with the Yasuda Group. This firm, co-organizer of the event on Japanese soil, did not comply with the previously agreed financial disbursement.
It was not until, as mentioned above, Rakuten intervened, paying the part corresponding to the Yasuda Group —about €5 million, to complete a total of €15 million—, that the situation began to move forward effectively.