Preseason training under Valverde to start on Wednesday with first 18 players back

This Wednesday 12 July, life will start returning to normal at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. The first team will be back at work and starting their preparations for the new season.

The first day back starts at 9.00am CET with routine medicals involving 18 players, four of which are from Barça B. Ernesto Valverde will be taking his first training session the same day at 6.30pm CET.

Six players will not be re-joining the squad until Friday 16 (Sergio, Denis Suárez, Iniesta, Jordi Alba, Digne and Umtiti) to compensate for the fact they had international fixtures in June.

And on Saturday, the club will be welcoming back Messi, Neymar Jr, Arda and Piqué, who will have been in Tokyo representing the club at the presentation of the Rakuten sponsorship deal.

The last two to report for duty will be Ter Stegen and André Gomes, who featured at the Confederations Cup and have been given time off until the end of the US Tour.

Here’s a recap of which players are due back and when:

12 July

The following players are due back: Rakitic, Suárez, Rafinha, Cillessen, Mascherano, Alcácer, S. Roberto, Aleix Vidal, Marlon, Douglas, Vermaelen, Samper, Munir, Deulofeu (in the afternoon), Ortolá, Aleñá, Cucurella and Palencia.

14 July

The following players are due back: Sergio, Denis Suárez, Iniesta, Jordi Alba, Digne and Umtiti.

15 July

The following players are due back: Arda, Messi, Neymar Jr and Piqué.

And here’s the training schedule for the week ahead (all times CET):

Wednesday, 12 July

9.00am. Medical tests
6.30pm. Training (behind closed doors)

Thursday, 13 July

9.30am. Training (first 15 minutes open to the media)
6.30pm. Training (behind closed doors)

Friday, 14 July

9.30am. Medicals for the internationals due back this morning
6.30pm. Training (behind closed doors)

Saturday, 15 July

9.30am. Training (behind closed doors)
6.30pm. Training (behind closed doors)

Sunday, 16 July

9.30am. Training (behind closed doors)