Barcelona Kicks Off Preseason Under Flick Amid International Absences

Barcelona started its preparations for the 2026/2027 season on Monday, with players undergoing medical and physical tests at the Joan Gamper Sports City, marking the beginning of the training period under German coach Hans Flick.

According to Spanish newspaper "Mundo Deportivo," Flick was the first to arrive at the team's training facility at 7 AM to oversee the players' return, kicking off his third season at the helm of the Catalan club.

The players began arriving from 9 AM for medical tests before the training sessions, gearing up for the new season, which will see Barcelona's first appearance in La Liga postponed to the second round due to ten players participating in the World Cup semifinals, alongside ongoing evaluations of the squad that may undergo changes during the summer transfer window.

On the first day, several first-team players were present, including Marc Casado, Alejandro Balde, Marc-André ter Stegen, Szczęsny, Fermín López, as well as Roni Bardhi, Héctor Fort, Marc Bernal, Gerard Martín, and Andreas Christensen.

The Spanish newspaper also noted the inclusion of several top talents from the La Masia academy in the initial training sessions, as Flick has given them the opportunity to participate with the first team during the early preparation phase to assess their levels before the new season begins.

The coaching staff is expected to work over the coming weeks to prepare the available players while awaiting the return of international players participating in the World Cup, before the squad is complete for the official competitions.