Joyous training session in front of the fans
There is no better way to see out the year than witness your heroes training in the flesh. That is exactly the experience enjoyed by thousands of fans on Saturday at the Estadi Johan Cruyff as a crowd heavily populated by younger Barça fans watched Xavi Hernández's team go through their paces in the traditional open doors day over the festive holidays.
Smiles abounded on the faces of the fans at the stadium and also in hospitals where thanks to Robot Project from the Emotional Welfare Project at the FC Barcelona Foundation children and young adults in hospital who were unable to travel to the Estadi Johan Cruyff were able to take part in the 'Barça experience' thanks sound and video links via robots Pol and Joyce.
The money raised from the open door session will continue to help fund this groundbreaking project.
Messages for Vitor Roque, Araujo...
Without doubt, everyone was able to enjoy the festive training session with Xavi Hernández's squad with sporting vice president Rafa Yuste also present. Barça scarves and jerseys were on display as were signs dedicated to the players. In the December sunshine messages such as 'Welcome, Tigrinho' and 'Araujo, if you give me your shirt, you will make my dream come true' could be seen in the stands.
The appearance of the players out on to the field was met with a joyous roar from the gathered supporters with all the available first team players taking part as well as Astralaga, Kochen, Cubarsí and Héctor Fort from Barça Atlètic. The crowd remained transfixed for the whole hour of the session as the players took part in 'rondos' and other typical training exercises in which Vitor Roque looked at home in just his second session as an FC Barcelona player.
Blaugrana gifts
Another gift from the session where the goals scored with Vitor Roque, Fermín, Araujo, Sergi Roberto, Oriol Romeu and Raphinha all finding the net in the training match. After the session the players gifted footballs to the crowds and patiently signed autographs and had their photographs taken to create a perfect memory to round off 2023.
Without doubt the session was a good one for Xavi's squad who will train once again on Saturday as they prepare for their return to action on 4 January in La Liga against Las Palmas in the Estadio Gran Canaria.