2023-07-22 19:05:56
An important part of the FC Barcelona squadwhich is found from US toursuffers from viral gastroenteritis that forced the suspension of the game that this past dawn was going to be played against the Juventusthe first of the four preseason friendlies scheduled for North American lands.
“An important part of the Barcelona squad is affected by viral gastroenteritis,” read the club’s statement. In the first training session, Koundé and Balde were absent due to stomach-intestinal ailments. They could have been the first affected by an outbreak that has spread to up to fifteen players. Among them, Eric Garcia, Oriol Romeu and the two defenses mentioned.
???? FC Barcelona informs that the match against Juventus FC, scheduled for today, July 22 at 7:30 p.m. at Levi’s Stadium corresponding to the Soccer Champions Tour, has been suspended. An important part of the Barcelona squad is affected by a… pic.twitter.com/UqZb4zrTQR
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) July 22, 2023
Symptoms of the virus have also been detected in members of the technical staff. Xavi Hernández would not be one of them. Neither is his brother and his main assistant Òscar. From the club it has been clarified that it is a viral gastroenteritis, not a consequence of food in poor condition. Several of those affected suffer from vomiting and decomposition.
“Life and football have these things. Sometimes situations arise that force us to stop our dynamics or change some plans,” said the president Joan Laporta to the club media.
The preseason debut against Juventus was to be played in Santa Clara, in San Francisco Bay. “We wanted to see the league champion in San Francisco with the new additions, but this misfortune has occurred. It’s a hard blow. I hope and wish that the players recover as quickly as possible,” he added.
more commitments
The team had to take a short flight from Los Angeles to San José for the match, which was also going to be the first friendly for Juventus, but the Barcelona fans did not even get on the plane. Those who were affected remained in the hotel, isolated in their rooms. Yes, part of the large representation of Barça managers were already at the airport. Most of the special envoys of the media, on the other hand, found out about the cancellation already in Sant Clara.
The president of FC Barcelona @JoanLaportaFCB regrets the suspension of the game that was supposed to be played against Juventus in Santa Clara
❝ It’s a hard blow, I hope the players recover soon ❞ pic.twitter.com/1DOgGbb7bm
– FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_cat) July 22, 2023
It remains to be seen now if enough members of the squad are recovered to face the next scheduled match of the tour, against Arsenal in four days in Los Angeles, where the expedition is staying (Thursday 27, 4.30). The rest of the Catalans’ rivals in the US are Real Madrid (Saturday 29, 11:00 p.m.) and AC Milan (Wednesday 2, 5:00 p.m.).
A solution?
FC Barcelona was trying to find another date for the match against Juventus so as not to jeopardize the economic performance of the tour, the so-called Soccer Champions Tour, which amounts to around 12 million dollars. With one less confrontation, the amount to be received will be reduced. The insurance covers part of the losses, but the ticketing is irrecoverable.
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However, the state of indisposition of so many footballers made it impossible to find an immediate date before Thursday. “We are trying to find a solution to compensate for this situation,” Laporta said in the first instance.
The healthy players trained yesterday Saturday and will do so again this Monday, waiting to recover their strength.
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