Barcelona have welcomed three players back to training as manager Hansi Flick intensifies preparations for the new season.
Joan García, Eric García and Anthony Gordon have returned to the Catalan club following their extended post-World Cup break. The three players were involved with the Spain and England squads during the summer tournament before being given additional time to rest and recover.
Their return marks another important step in Barcelona’s preparations ahead of the new campaign, with Flick gradually bringing his full squad together.
The trio resumed work over the weekend, taking part in individual training sessions alongside Gavi. Their programme included gym exercises as well as ball work on the training pitch, allowing them to begin rebuilding their fitness and sharpness after their international commitments.
Barcelona’s coaching staff are expected to carefully manage the players’ workload during the early stages of their return, particularly after the demanding international schedule.
While García, García and Gordon were back at work, the rest of the Barcelona squad were given a rest day following their participation in a triangular tournament in Udine, Italy. The break is part of the club’s wider pre-season programme as Flick looks to balance training, recovery and match preparation.
The remaining players are scheduled to return to the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper on Monday, where they will begin another week of intensive preparations.
Flick has already planned double training sessions for Wednesday and Thursday as Barcelona continue building towards their next friendly match in Basel.
The German coach will be using the coming weeks to assess his players, improve tactical understanding and ensure the squad reaches the required level of fitness before the competitive season begins.
The return of the three international players is therefore significant for Barcelona, particularly as the club looks to establish greater squad depth ahead of a demanding campaign.
With pre-season preparations now entering a more intensive phase, attention will turn to how quickly the returning players can integrate back into full team training and compete for places in Flick’s starting plans.
For Barcelona supporters across Europe, Africa and other parts of the world, the coming weeks will offer an early indication of how Flick intends to shape his team and use his available options when the new season gets underway.
Tags: Barcelona, Hansi Flick, World Cup
