Thirty-five days after dismissing the course, Barcelona started the 2023-2024 preseason this Monday with medical check-ups and different physical tests in which 26 footballers have participated. Eleven from the first team and 12 homegrown players in addition to Lenglet, Dest and Nico, who were returning from their respective assignments. Àlex Collado was not in this group, in talks with Betis to close his exit.
Even without internationals, those named for this first day of pre-season are Iñaki Peña, Balde, Eric García, Ferran Torres, Íñigo Martínez, Marcos Alonso, Pablo Torre, Pedri, Araújo, Raphinha and Sergi Roberto. They have been accompanied by a dozen footballers from Barça Atlètic and Juvenil A: Alarcón, Cubarsí, Diego Kochen, Estanis, Faye, Fermín López, Héctor Fort, Lamine Yamal, Casadó, Marc Guiu, Pau Prim and Unai Hernández.
The entire group passed several physical tests and medical check-ups that consist of a cardiology study, weight and body composition control, podiatry, blood and urine tests, and a strength test.
In the afternoon, at 7:00 p.m., the players trained in a first easy session starting at 7:00 p.m. They are not all yet. As of Saturday, July 15, the eleven internationals who played official or friendly commitments with their teams will join. They are Gundogan, the star signing of the season, Lewandowski, Frenkie de Jong, Ter Stegen, Dembélé, Koundé, Christensen, Kessié, Gavi, Ansu Fati and Abde, who has just been proclaimed champion of the Under-23 African Cup.
“On Monday all the players will start from scratch. They must be prepared ”, warned Xavi Hernández in his campus presentation. After a summer in which the only exit that has been closed is that of Umtiti, with whom an agreement was reached to terminate his contract, the coach wants to re-evaluate his squad before setting up the list of players that on 19 July they will tour the United States.
If they don't convince him now, he will have that uncomfortable conversation with the indicated players to inform them that, now, they should look for a way out because he doesn't have them. Some like Franck Kessié or Lenglet already know of his decision. Yes, he will travel to the Sergiño Dest tour. Faced with the impossibility of being able to sign a right-back, Xavi welcomes this alternative.
