18 players undergo medicals

A large part of the squad underwent medical tests at the Ciutat Esportiva on Wednesday with a training session to come at 6.30pm CET

The 2017/18 preseason for the Barça first team squad is under way with the customary medicals. On Wednesday morning local time 18 players turned up for the medical and physical assessments, 13 from the first team squad plus five from the Barça B squad: Rakitic, Suárez, Sergi Roberto, Mascherano, Rafinha, Cillessen, Alcácer, Aleix Vidal, Marlon, Douglas, Vermaelen, Samper, Munir, Ortolá, Aleñá, Cucurella, Palencia and Vitinho.

The medical consisted of strength, chiropody, cardialogical and body density tests. The Barça squad will begin training in earnest with a session on Wednesday afternoon and then twice daily sessions for the coming days. Over the next few days players who were on international duty over the summer will gradually return to the squad.

The FC Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu and the sporting vice president Jordi Mestre visited the Ciutat Esportiva to welcome back the players, coach Ernesto Valverde and his coaching staff on this first day of the new 2017/18 season for Barça.