Hansi Flick gives Barcelona’s non-internationals nine-day break

Hansi Flick has given Barcelona’s players who were not selected by their national teams nine days off during the current international break.

Barcelona are due back in training on Tuesday, although Flick will have only a small group available because the club’s international players have joined their countries ahead of upcoming fixtures.

The non-international players will continue working at the Joan Gamper Sports City until Friday. They will then begin their extended break, which will run from 26 September until 4 October.

Wojciech Szczesny, Gerard Martin, Alejandro Balde, Gavi, Brian Farinas and Gabriel Jesus are among those who will benefit from the time away from training.

No team sessions have been scheduled during the break. However, injured players Joan Garcia, Andreas Christensen, Frenkie de Jong and Roony Bardghji may still attend the club’s facilities to continue their individual rehabilitation programmes.

Barcelona are hopeful Joan Garcia will be ready to return after the international break. Christensen, however, is expected to need several more weeks to recover from the muscle injury he suffered during the match against Sevilla.

The Denmark international sustained the problem in the rectus femoris muscle of his left thigh. De Jong and Bardghji also face a longer wait before they can return to full team training and competitive action.

Barcelona’s squad will resume training on 5 October, although the international players will still be absent. Flick will then begin preparing his available group for the meeting with Getafe.

Barcelona will host Getafe on Saturday, 10 October at Spotify Camp Nou in their first match after the international break.

Flick’s decision follows a strong opening to the season and the considerable effort required from his players to maintain their winning run. The Barcelona manager is aiming to ensure the squad returns with its energy fully restored.