Messi And Mascherano Make Early Return To Barcelona

The Argentine duo cut short their holiday to join the squad in Barca’s pre-season as they prepare to kick-start their 2015-2016 campaign

Argentina duo of Javier Mascherano and Lionel Messi arrived at FC Barcelona training four days before their expected arrival.

The stars were due to arrive on Monday, 3rd August but decided to cut the rest short and join up on Thursday, July 30 (today).

Brazilians Dani Alves and Neymar are the players expected back on July 30 but the club saw two more guests join up.

Alves, Neymar, Messi and Mascherano had medical tests alongside goalkeeper Marc Andre Ter Stegen who has been with the squad but didn’t have any medical test.

The arrival of the four means only Chile’s Copa America winner Claudio Bravo is left to join the team and is expected back on Monday, 3rd August.

Barca will play their next game on Sunday, August 2 against Fiorentina before taking on AS Roma in the Joan Gamper trophy three days later.

Luis Enrique will have a full squad [without Douglas who is injured] to choose from in Barca’s first three official games of the season with the first coming up on August 11 against Sevilla in the Uefa Super Cup in Tsibilis.