Julian Araujo played his first match with Barcelona during its 2-0 friendly win over Vissel Kobe in Tokyo on Tuesday as Andres Iniesta played his last game for the Japanese club.
21-year-old Araujo, joined Barca from LA Galaxy on a €4 million deal earlier this year but has since not been able to play in a match because the deal missed January’s registration deadline by 18 seconds.
He was able to make his first Barca appearance and played the first half as a right-back and the second period on the left side of defense at the Japan National Stadium, after four months of training with the team.
Sources say that Barca plan for Araujo to continue with the first team in the preseason when they tour the U.S. before a decision is made on how his development will be best served next season.
Barca coach Xavi Hernandez also presented several youngsters in the friendly which took place less than 48 hours after the LaLiga champions ended their domestic campaign with a 2-1 defeat to Celta Vigo.
Barcelona won the match against Vissel Kobe with first-half goals from Franck Kessie and Eric Garcia. Both goals were assisted by Pablo Torre, who gave a sharp defense-splitting pass to create the opener for Kessie in the 16th minute before Garcia headed in Torre’s corner three minutes later.
Pau Prim and Dani Rodriguez were involved from the start, while Marc Giui, Hector Fort, and Unai Hernandez all came off the bench in the second half.
Vissel Kobe chances to score were denied by goalkeeper Inaki Pena, who made a fine save from Lincoln before displaying quick reflexes to make a double stop from Koya Yuruki.
Tuesday’s match was the second time ex-Barca midfielder Iniesta faced off against his former club after he left in 2018 — 22 years after joining the youth academy as a 12-year-old.
The midfielder united with his former teammate Xavi before the game and said goodbye to Vissel Kobe after heannounced in May he will leave the club, after his five-year stay in Japan.
39-year-old Iniesta lost his touch with his team – Vissel Kobe, though he says he still feels capable of playing regular football. Sources say he is considering offers after and have gotten interest from Major League Soccer, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Dubai.
