Argentina's Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano are back to Barcelona, training ahead of schedule, and had their medical examination together with a number of returning teammates as they prepare for next season.
Messi and Mascherano were given extra time off after playing for their nation in the Copa America, where they suffered another heartbreak losing to host nation Chile in the finals.
Following the loss, Messi made the decision to take a break and rest from international competition.
Along with Messi and Mascherano, defender Dani Alves and forward Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, who also competed at the Copa America for Brazil, also had their medical assessment.
Messi, Mascherano, Alves, and Neymar were unable to be with Barca during its international preseason tour in the United States.
Along with them, German goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, who was with the club during the tour, also went through his medical examination.
Now, the only player yet to return is goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, the captain of the Chile squad who raised the trophy in this year's Copa America tournament.
As the players start to return, Blaugrana captain Andres Iniesta discussed the work that is in front of them as they prepare for a new season following a treble-winning campaign in their last outing.
"There are positive things and others to improve, like at the start of every season. We are still trying to prepare ourselves as best we can through training sessions and matches and, beyond results, I think we have to be positive," Iniesta said in a statement posted on the club's website.
He also discussed how they need to speed up their training process since matches are fast-approaching and they need to be in the best shape as they continue preparing.
