According to Mundo Deportivo, FC Barcelona are set to change their pre-season plans next summer.
For the first time since 2021, during the pandemic, the club will return to a traditional European training camp instead of organising a full international tour. The decision comes at the request of Hansi Flick.
Rather than spending weeks travelling, Barça plan to hold a focused training ‘stage’ in a quiet European location.
While final details are still being worked out, the destination is expected to be Germany, starting in early July. Some international players may miss the initial phase due to rest periods following the World Cup.
After the training camp, the team will still play a few friendly matches, but there will be no extended two-week tour like in recent summers. Within this plan, a previously arranged friendly in Peru could go ahead.
Why the change?
There are two main reasons behind this shift. First, the impact of the World Cup. Many key players are expected to either still be involved in the tournament or just returning from holidays, making it difficult to organise a full squad tour.
Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona
Barcelona could hold a training camp in Germany for pre-season. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Additionally, the United States, a regular destination in recent years, is not an option due to market saturation from the World Cup, similar to what happened with the Club World Cup last summer, when Barça instead toured Japan and South Korea.
Second, Flick prefers a more traditional pre-season setup. He believes a structured training camp allows for better physical and tactical preparation.
While he was satisfied with the 2024 tour in the U.S., the 2025 trip to Japan and South Korea was less convincing, especially after nearly being cancelled due to sponsor payment issues.
Friendlies still on the agenda
Even without a major tour, Barcelona will still schedule friendly matches after the training camp to offset the financial loss, estimated at around €15 million, that typically comes from international tours.
In this context, the already agreed friendly in Peru is likely to take place. While a return to the U.S. is ruled out, the club is still considering playing additional matches in Asia following the European stage.
Overall, the plan marks a clear shift toward a more controlled and performance-focused pre-season, aligned with Flick’s vision for the team.