The FC Barcelona contingent are on their way to Japan
The team's private plane set off at 16.15 local time on route to Tokyo
FC Barcelona are on route to Tokyo as they begin their preseason tour of Japan. The plane left El Prat airport at 16:15 local time and is expected to arrive in Asia at around 05:45.
Ernesto Valverde only has 17 first-team players available to him for this tour and the other nine are Barça B members. They will take part in two friendlies. One against Chelsea in Tokyo (23rd July) and four days later they'll face Andres Iniesta, David Villa and Sergi Samper's Vissel Kobe in Kobe.
SIGNIFICANT BOARDROOM PRESENCE ON THE TRIP
Barça's club president Josep Maria Bartomeu is on the plane alongside the two vice presidents Jordi Cardoner and Jordi Moix. Other directors making the trip are Dídac Lee, Josep Ramon Vidal-Abarca, Pau Vilanova, Emili Rousaud, Oriol Tomás and Marta Plana. And for the first time ever Barça Rugby will also take part in the preseason tour.
All of them will attend the first event on the agenda for Tokyo, hosted by Rakuten.
