Barcelona are back to work

Just over a month after they went on summer break, Barcelona returned to action, under the watchful eye of Xavi Hernandez at their Joan Gamper complex, as they kicked off their pre-season on Monday.
Lots of the squad's first team were there to get 2023-24 underway, including Inaki Pena, Balde, Eric Garcia, Ferran Torres, Inigo Martínez, Marcos Alonso, Pablo Torre, Pedri, Araujo, Raphinha and Sergi Roberto, as well as Lenglet, Dest and Nico, who have returned after their respective loan spells.
They were joined by various players from the second team and youth squad: Alarcon, Cubarsi, Diego Kochen, Estanis, Faye, Fermin Lopez, Hector Fort, Lamine Yamal, Casado, Marc Guiu, Pau Prim and Unai Hernandez.
The beginning of the new season featured a morning of physical tests and medical check ups: cardiological study, weight and body composition check ups, podiatry, blood and urine analysis and strength tests.
This is only the start of their preparations before they embark on their tour of the USA, which starts on July 19th. In the evening at 19:00, Barca will take on their first training session of the new campaign.
They are missing 11 internationals, who are still away with their national teams, on official business or playing friendlies, who will join them on Saturday 15th July: Gundogan, the summer's star signing, Lewandowski, Frenkie de Jong, Ter Stegen, Dembele, Kounde, Christensen, Kessie, Gavi, Ansu Fati and Abde, who has just taken home the AFCON Under 23s title with Morocco.