2 return, 1 still out: Barcelona pre-season squad latest

La Liga giants Barcelona welcomed two key players back to first-team training on Monday.

As much, of course, comes amid ongoing preparations for the new campaign.

Hansi Flick’s squad flew out to the USA over the weekend, to kick their latest pre-season tour into gear.

The bulk of the club’s stars travelled directly from Catalunya’s capital, with the Blaugrana coaching team and backroom staff.

Others, though, made their way to Orlando from the locations of their summer vacations.

And, as alluded to above, earlier today, two such players linked up with their teammates at the club’s training base for the time being.

The pair in question? Raphinha, and İlkay Gündoğan.

Both wide-man Raphinha, and midfielder Gündoğan, were afforded extended breaks, on the back of their endeavours at the Copa América and European Championships, respectively.

On Monday, though, the pair were back in the thick of things under the watch of their new manager.

Still absent, on the other hand, was Jules Koundé, albeit with the defender expected to return to the grass in short order, after his efforts en route to France’s march to the semi-finals of Euro 2024.

Conor Laird | GSFN