Barcelona Adjust Pre-Season Tour Strategy After Lessons from Last Year
Last season’s pre-season tour of the United States proved to be a valuable learning experience for Barcelona, according to Xavi. The team’s trip included matches in Miami, Las Vegas, Dallas, and New York, with the squad constantly switching hotels and facing exhausting travel schedules. As a result, the players were unable to get the rest and recovery time they needed, and some training sessions had to be cut short due to extreme heat. Determined to avoid a repeat of those challenges, Barcelona has decided to spend most of their time in Los Angeles this year.
California’s more comfortable weather and stable base camp in Los Angeles will provide the ideal conditions for Xavi to prepare his team for the upcoming La Liga season. The players, especially new arrivals Ilkay Gundogan, Inigo Martinez, and Oriol Romeu, will likely appreciate the improved setup. The extended time together will also allow the squad to bond and build chemistry, benefiting both the established players and those facing uncertain futures.
Barcelona’s arrival in Los Angeles attracted a large group of eager supporters, with players such as Robert Lewandowski, Gundogan, Frenkie de Jong, and Ousmane Dembele taking the time to interact with fans and sign autographs. However, new signing Oriol Romeu went unnoticed as he entered the hotel. The confirmation of Romeu’s signing coincided with the announcement of Nico Gonzalez’s absence from the tour, suggesting that the young player may be headed for a loan move. Xavi’s decision to trust Romeu over Gonzalez indicates the limited playing time the latter would have if he remained with the team.
Another surprising inclusion in the tour party was Clement Lenglet, whom Barcelona had hoped to sell during the summer transfer window. However, negotiations with Tottenham Hotspur, where Lenglet spent last season on loan, have so far been unsuccessful. Barcelona sources believe that a deal will eventually be reached, but for now, Lenglet will continue training with the team.
While some players, like Nico Gonzalez, face uncertain futures, others have the opportunity to prove themselves during the pre-season tour. Xavi has specifically selected young talents such as Abde Ezzalzouli, who impressed last season on loan at Osasuna. At just 16 years old, Lamine Yamal also has the chance to impress and potentially earn more first-team involvement in the upcoming season. Other promising players from Barcelona’s academy, including Marc Casado, Aleix Garrido, Mikayil Faye, Alex Valle, and Fermin Lopez, have also joined the tour.
However, with a squad of 32 players, not everyone will have significant playing time in the four matches against Juventus, Arsenal, Real Madrid, and AC Milan. Barcelona’s management is keen to make sales but has struggled to find suitable buyers. Xavi will play a crucial role in team selections during the tour, and his choices could send messages to players like Ferran Torres and Eric Garcia, who face uncertain roles within the team.
Torres, who wants to stay at Barcelona, may have to contend with others establishing themselves ahead of him. Garcia, on the other hand, could see his playing time limited due to the signing of Romeu for the holding midfielder role. Additionally, the club is open to selling Franck Kessie, who arrived on a free transfer last year. Despite being informed that his playing time will be limited next season, Kessie has rejected an offer from Saudi Arabia and is content with his life at Barcelona.
Barcelona’s pre-season tour in the United States will provide the team with valuable preparation ahead of the new season. The extended time together and the opportunity for players to bond and prove themselves will be crucial for Xavi in his aim to build a formidable squad for the upcoming La Liga campaign.