Hansi Flick has taken Barcelona to St George's Park in Staffordshire for a pre-season training camp this week as the La Liga champions continue their preparations. The move comes as Premier League clubs travel to the Far East and the United States, while Barcelona have instead made the Midlands their home.
Barcelona won the Spanish title by eight points last season under Flick, and their programme has been shaped by the knock-on effects of this month's World Cup triumph with Spain. Their next two warm-up matches are against Championship opposition: Birmingham at St Andrew's on Friday and Preston behind closed doors at St George's Park on Monday.
Barca's eight World Cup winners, including Lamine Yamal, remain on a break after their success with Spain this month, although new signing Karim Adeyemi is included after his summer move from Borussia Dortmund. Also on a post-World Cup break are Spain team-mates Ferran Torres, Joan Garcia, Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsi, Gavi, Dani Olmo and Pedri.
Why has Barcelona chosen the Midlands?
Barcelona ruled out a long-haul tour to the United States because of the World Cup schedule. With players returning at different times after international duty, the club spent much of the year considering options that would allow them to work around the disrupted timetable.
Birmingham had been speaking to the club for several months as it looked to raise its own profile. The Blues, who missed out on the Championship play-offs last season, have promotion ambitions under chairman Tom Wagner and minority owner and seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady.
Barcelona wanted good standard opposition as part of their pre-season programme, which helped make the UK an attractive option. They have previously used St George's Park in 2014, before winning the Treble of La Liga, Copa del Rey and the Champions League, and again in 2016.
Roma have also trained at the facility in the past, while Nantes, Fiorentina and Rangers used it last summer.
Lionel Messi trained at St George's Park during Barcelona's last visit 11 years ago
Who is in the squad for the trip?
The 30-man squad flew to Birmingham on Monday before training early evening in the Midlands, with Fermín Lopez continuing his recovery from injury. The midfielder missed out on Spain's World Cup success after breaking his foot against Real Betis in May.
Flick's group includes senior players as well as members of Barcelona B and the under-19s, among them forward Orian Goren, who turned 17 in March. The squad also includes Netherlands midfielder Frenkie de Jong, despite a knee injury that was expected to keep him out for months.
De Jong damaged the medial collateral ligament in his right knee at the World Cup. Another surprise inclusion is Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who had been expected to move to Ajax on loan. No deal has been completed, so the German goalkeeper has travelled to England and could face Birmingham on Friday.
Barcelona also remain without another six senior internationals, including England's Anthony Gordon following his £80m move from Newcastle. Brazil's Raphinha, France's Jules Kounde and Uruguay's Ronald Araujo are also absent.
The squad is training on the pitch reserved for the England senior team and had a double session on Tuesday.
What comes next for Barcelona?
After their match at St Andrew's, Barcelona will play Preston behind closed doors at St George's Park next Monday. Paul Heckingbottom's side began their pre-season with a 4-1 win against Northern Premier League Premier Division side Bamber Bridge at the start of the month.
Barcelona will then travel to Italy for two 45-minute matches against Nottingham Forest and Udinese in the Friuli Venezia Giulia tournament on 8 August.
Barcelona squad: Ter Stegen, Fort, Balde, Araujo, Cortes, Guille Fernandez, Toni Fernandez, Farinas, Abdelkarim, Tommy, Xavi Espart, Yaakobishvili, Adeyemi, Christensen, Fermin, M Casado, Gerard Martin, Roony, Tunkara, Torrents, Bernal, Gonzalez, Kluivert, Szczesny, Goren, Gistau, Diarra, Pesquer, Rodriguez, De Jong.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen spent the second half of last season on loan at Girona, though only played twice before suffering a hamstring injury
