Barcelona’s pre-season gets underway

Barcelona’s pre-season will kick off today with around 10 players from the squad. Thus Luis Enrique’s tenure at the Catalan club begins with a series of physical tests and medicals for the players, some of which are still missing due to international duty in Brazil.

Messi picked up the Golden Ball last night after his team’s defeat at the hands of the well-oiled machine of Joachim Low, with many wondering why as there have been better players than Leo at this tournament.

Golden Boot went to James Rodríguez of Colombia for his impressive tally of 6 goals which included the best one of the tournament by far.However, Mario Goetze’s fantastic goal in extra time demonstrated why Germany were worthy winners in last night’s World Cup final. Germany now have 4 World Cup titles, the same as Italy.

Meanwhile, FIFA have blocked any official presentation by FC Barcelona of Luis Suárez until after his 4 month ban has been completed. Barça would have liked to present the player but the powers that be have said ‘No’.

Training for Barcelona will commence from tomorrow at the Sporting City just outside Barcelona in Sant Joan Despí. There will be double sessions starting at 09:30 and 18:30 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday with a single session on Thursday.

The first game of the season will be on Saturday 19th July against Recreativo for the Colombino trophy. Kick off is at 22:00.

Five days later, Spanish internationals Xavi Hernández, Andrés Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Gerard Piqué, Jordi Alba and Pedro Rodríguez-, Croatian Ivan Rakitic and Cameroon’s Alex Song, all participants in this year’s World cup in Brazil, will start training with the rest of the group.