Barcelona already preparing players for demanding preseason under Flick | OneFootball

Up to 16 FC Barcelona players were called up by their respective national teams for the World Cup 2026, and these players are currently playing in the second round of matches in the group stage.

Meanwhile, the remaining players, who were not called up their national teams, are enjoying their vacations after a hectic season, and are set to return to the Catalan club on 13th July to start preseason training under Hansi Flick. The German coach has already called up several players from the youth academy to accompany the available first team players for the start of this preseason training.

There are still some weeks before the first training session will be held at the Ciutat Esportiva. However, SPORT reports that the club has already sent personalized physical training guidelines to the players, with the view to ensure their bodies are in shape to withstand the exertions of the preseason training, which is expected to have two sessions almost every day.

Many of the players currently on vacation have already started training, even though these specific plans are designed to be executed 10-15 days before the start of preseason. One factor that has influenced the club into taking this step is the serious injury suffered by Ibrahim Diarra a few days into the last year’s preseason.

For now, players like Tommy Marques and Alvaro Cortes have already been seen training on their own. Other youngsters like Orian Goren, Guille Fernández, Toni or Álex González are also following their paths. These youngsters will be joined by first team players like Alejandro Balde, Gerard Martin, or Wojciech Szczesny, all of who are not playing in the World Cup.

Only two or three weeks after the start of preseason training there would be the first preseason friendly for Barcelona. Thus, the club does not want the players to lose any time, and return in best shape for the start of the highly-demanding preseason training.