Barça arrive for stage at Saint George's Park

The FC Barcelona expedition arrived at the installations of Saint George's Park at around 13:30, led by Leo Messi, who was accompanied at all times by his inseparable friend, Luis Suarez. 

The team coach did not enter through the front entrance, but accessed through the rear gate, while various security members made the task of the press needlessly difficult.

Fortunately, the club's security head, Rafa Soldado, reacted in time and allowed the special correspondents from the media to do their job.

The Barça squad is planned to train on Monday evening, at 18:30.

For Messi, it will be the first time that he is in contact with a ball since the painful memory of the Copa America final against Chile, on June 26.

It will also be his first time on the Saint George's Park pitches, as he was not part of the stage in England two years ago, when Barça also had a camp there.

Luis Enrique will have an idyllic setting to prepare his players, with the 19 degree temperature providing perfect conditions in which to work.

Another new face seen this Monday, was that of Arda Turan, who was with the team after a month's holiday.

There are 24 players in total taking part in the stage, 12 of them from the Barça B squad.

Tough days await them, with double training sessions scheduled every day until Saturday, when Barcelona travel to Dublin to play against Celtic in their first pre-season friendly.