Barcelona considering pre-season friendly against Udinese in Italy – report

Barcelona considering pre-season friendly against Udinese in Italy – report According to Carlos Monfort of SPORT , FC Barcelona are evaluating the possibility of facing Udinese in a pre-season friendly as they continue finalising their summer schedule ahead of the 2026/27 campaign. The proposed match, which would take place in Italy in early August, is viewed positively within the club. However, no agreement has been reached, and the plan still requires approval from Barcelona’s board of directors while other pre-season options remain under consideration. A practical stop before the new season Barcelona’s priority this summer is to create a pre-season schedule that minimises long-distance travel while providing strong competitive preparation before the start of La Liga. Italy is considered an attractive destination, particularly because the team is expected to spend a significant portion of its pre-season training camp in England. Barcelona may face Udinese in a friendly. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images) A short trip to face Udinese would fit naturally into that schedule without placing unnecessary physical demands on the squad. The friendly would also offer Hansi Flick another opportunity to increase the team’s match fitness roughly two weeks before the league campaign begins. First look at new faces If the fixture goes ahead, supporters would get another opportunity to watch Barcelona’s new signings in action, including Anthony Gordon, the club’s marquee arrival of the summer. As in previous pre-seasons, Flick is also expected to include several academy prospects, continuing his approach of integrating young players into the first-team environment during the summer. The German coach places significant importance on pre-season preparations, believing they lay the foundation for the team’s physical condition throughout the campaign. Birmingham remains the base As already confirmed , Barcelona will establish their pre-season headquarters at St George’s Park in Birmingham. Barcelona will also face Birmingham City. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images) The training facilities there provide the modern infrastructure and sports science technology that Flick and his coaching staff believe are essential for preparing the squad at the highest level. They will also play a pre-season friendly against Birmingham City as part of the pre-season camp in England. More decisions still to come The possible meeting with Udinese is only one part of Barcelona’s pre-season planning. Club executives are expected to revisit the schedule during the next board meeting, where discussions will also continue regarding the opponent for the Gamper Trophy. While the identity of that opponent has yet to be decided, Barcelona are expected to hold the match on August 19, serving as the team’s first major home event before the start of the new season. The Catalans want to ensure the squad arrives at that occasion fully prepared, and a friendly against Udinese has emerged as one of the leading options to provide valuable competitive minutes before the campaign officially begins.