An important part of the FC Barcelona squadwhich is found from US toursuffers from a viral gastroenteritis that has forced the suspension of the game that this next morning was going to be played against the Juventusthe first of the four preseason friendlies scheduled for North American lands.
The statement issued by the Barcelona entity does not specify how many players suffer from gastroenteritis, or who. The only clear thing at this point is that the debut of newly signed footballers like Oriol Romeu or Gundogan You’ll have to wait. The match was to be held in Santa Clara, in the San Francisco Bay (California), at 04:30 in the morning.
🚨 FC Barcelona informs that the match against Juventus FC, scheduled for today, July 22 at 7:30 p.m. at Levi’s Stadium corresponding to the Soccer Champions Tour, has been suspended. An important part of the Barcelona squad is affected by a… pic.twitter.com/UqZb4zrTQR
– FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) July 22, 2023
Training without Bucket or Koundé
“An important part of the Barcelona squad is affected by viral gastroenteritis,” reads the club’s statement. In the first training session, Koundé and Balde were absent due to stomach-intestinal ailments. They could have been the first affected by an outbreak that has spread to, it is believed, almost fifteen players. Among them, Eric Garcia, Oriol Romeu and the two mentioned.
Symptoms have also been detected in members of the technical staff. Xavi Hernández would not be one of them. From the club it has been clarified that it is viral gastroenteritis, not the consequence of food in poor condition. All those affected suffer vomiting and decomposition.
“Life and football have these things. Sometimes situations arise that force us to slow down our dynamics or change some plans,” president Joan Laporta told the club’s media.
“We wanted to see the league champion with the new additions in San Francisco, but this misfortune has occurred. It’s a hard blow. I hope and wish that the players recover as quickly as possible”, he added.
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The team had to take a short flight from Los Angeles to San José for the match, which was also going to be the first friendly for Juventus, but the Barcelona fans did not even get on the plane. They didn’t even leave the hotel. Yes, part of the large representation of Barça fans were already at the airport. Most of the special envoys of the media, on the other hand, found out about the cancellation already in Sant Clara.
The president of FC Barcelona @JoanLaportaFCB regrets the suspension of the match that was to be played against Juventus in Santa Clara
❝ It’s a hard cop, I hope the players are recovering aviat ❞ pic.twitter.com/1DOgGbb7bm
– FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_cat) July 22, 2023
It remains to be seen now if enough members of the squad are recovered to face the next scheduled match of the tour, against Arsenal in four days in Los Angeles, where the expedition is staying.
The other rivals of the Catalans in the US are Arsenal (Thursday 27, 4.30), Real Madrid (Saturday 29, 23.00) and AC Milan (Wednesday 2, 5.00).
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FC Barcelona is trying to find another date for the match against Juventus so as not to affect the economic performance of the tour, the so-called Soccer Champions Tour, which amounts to about 12 million dollars. With one less confrontation, the amount to be received will be reduced. But the state of indisposition of so many footballers makes it unlikely to find an immediate date before Thursday. There has been speculation about a postponement until this Sunday, but nothing is decided at this time. “We are trying to find a solution to compensate for this situation,” says Laporta.
The players who are not affected by any ailment planned to exercise in a training session apart from the rest.