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For 3 consecutive years, Barcelona’s pre-season excursions have taken place in the USA, turning into a staple of the membership’s summer time preparations. These excursions have served as each a industrial alternative and an opportunity to fine-tune the squad forward of aggressive campaigns. Nonetheless, a big change is on the horizon for the summer time of 2025. Whereas the membership has traditionally ventured throughout the Atlantic, this custom will take a shocking flip subsequent 12 months, marking the tip of an period for the Blaugrana’s pre-season routine.
In keeping with reviews from Catalunya Radio, Barcelona’s first-team squad won’t journey to the USA for the 2025-26 pre-season. As an alternative, Hansi Flick is eyeing a return to Asia, a area the membership has not toured extensively since 2019. The choice comes amidst a broader plan to diversify the membership’s world outreach and reconnect with followers in beforehand untapped markets.
Throughout their final main Asian tour in 2019, the membership participated within the Rakuten Cup, enjoying friendlies in opposition to Chelsea and Vissel Kobe. The matches provided a chance to showcase their expertise to Asian supporters, who type an important section of the membership’s world fanbase. In 2023, they returned briefly to Asia for a particular fixture honoring Andres Iniesta in opposition to Vissel Kobe, however the sport was not a part of an official pre-season tour.
Why the change?
The upcoming change stems from sensible concerns and strategic planning. The United States is ready to host the Membership World Cup in the summertime of 2025, a month-long occasion that runs from June 14 to July 13. With high groups taking part, the U.S. might be bustling with aggressive soccer, making it much less possible for Barcelona to prepare a high-profile pre-season marketing campaign there.
Moreover, the absence of rivals like Actual Madrid, who might be engaged within the Membership World Cup, could have influenced Barcelona’s choice. Over the previous three summers, the U.S. has hosted a pre-season El Clasico between Barcelona and Actual Madrid, including pleasure and industrial worth to the excursions. With out this marquee fixture, the attraction of an American tour might need diminished for Barcelona’s organizers.
As an alternative, Asia presents a profitable and strategic various. With rising soccer curiosity throughout nations like Japan, China, and South Korea, Barcelona seeks to strengthen its presence in these areas. Potential venues for the tour embrace video games in main cities the place the membership has established important fan bases.
Neymar’s affect on new technique
Including one other layer to Barcelona’s choice is the broader technique to re-engage Asian markets, which had been instrumental throughout the Neymar period. Neymar’s iconic stint at Barcelona noticed the membership’s reputation skyrocket in areas like Asia. Now, beneath the affect of recent methods and management, together with head coach Hansi Flick, the membership is revisiting this strategy.
“We’re exploring alternatives to attach extra deeply with our world fanbase. Asia has all the time been an vital area for us,” a membership’s insider instructed Catalunya Radio. Whereas Neymar himself could not be with the Blaugrana, his influence continues to form the membership’s industrial and strategic initiatives.
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