Barcelona missing 10 first-team stars as pre-season tour squad named

Barcelona are without ten significant first-team stars as they named their squad for their pre-season tour of the United States.

The Catalan giants confirmed their roster to make the trip over to the US on Sunday but a number of players will play no part in scheduled friendlies against Manchester City, Real Madrid and Milan.

Spain heroes Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres are enjoying more time off after helping their nation to Euro 2024 glory, while Pau Cubarsi, Fermin Lopez and Eric Garcia are all currently playing in the Olympic Games in France.

Ronald Araujo, Gavi, Pedri, Frenkie de Jong and Ansu Fati are carrying knocks and haven't been included in Hansi Flick's 31-member traveling party, leaving the former Bayern Munich manager to pick plenty of untested youth prodigies instead.

These include cousins Toni and Guille Fernandez, Noah Darvich and Marc Benal, while Vitor Roque, Clement Lenglet and Pablo Torre have made the cut despite being touted for transfers away from the club over the summer.

Ilkay Gundogan, Raphinha and Jules Kounde will all link up with the squad at a later date following their runs at Euro 2024.

Barca hope midfield wizards Pedri and Gavi will be available in August, though the latter may not be fit in time for their La Liga opener against Valencia.

De Jong was ruled out of the Netherlands squad over the summer due to an ankle injury, while Ronald Araujo may not return to action until October with a hamstring problem.

La Blaugrana are hoping for a major improvement in the upcoming season after a disappointing 2023/24 campaign under former boss Xavi Hernandez. The legendary midfielder was dogged by constant off-field pressure and eventually left before the end of the term with Barca finishing second in La Liga and exiting the Champions League in the quarter-finals.

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