On July 13, FC Barcelona’s preseason begins at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper under head coach Hansi Flick. Due to many first-team members participating in the World Cup, the squad has been expanded to include several young players from Juvenil A and Barça Atlètic.
Many of these young athletes have already started individual training during their holidays, following personalized fitness routines. The goal is to activate musculature, strengthen the lower body, and improve cardiovascular fitness to handle the demanding workload of the preseason.
The staff aims to avoid incidents like last year’s injury to Ibrahim Diarra, who suffered a significant hamstring issue shortly after training started. Flick’s team focuses on building a solid physical base to prepare the players safely.
Among the youngsters expected for the preseason start are Tommy Marqués, who trained in Algarve, and Álvaro Cortés, balancing his holidays in Andalusia with sessions at a training center. Others include Orian Goren, Guille Fernández, Toni, and recently signed Álex González from Damm.
First-team players such as Alejandro Balde, Gerard Martín, and Wojciech Szczęsny will also join and follow the same strengthening program before the season begins. Additionally, young players like Ebrima Tunkara, Óscar Gistau, and Xavi Espart, currently competing in the U17 European Championship, will be part of the group.
The preseason schedule includes friendly matches just two to three weeks after training begins, requiring the players to be well-prepared for intense sessions. This early physical preparation is key to managing the transition to the first team’s competitive pace while minimizing injury risks.
