Football
Adriana Garcia 9y

Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano return to Barcelona training early

Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano have returned to training ahead of schedule for Barcelona as the club prepares for the 2015-16 season.

Argentina internationals Messi and Mascherano were given additional time off after playing at the Copa America in Chile and had been set to join the team in their preseason workouts next Monday.

However, Messi and Mascherano were two of the five players that underwent medicals on Thursday before having individual training sessions.

Dani Alves and Neymar, who played at the Copa America with Brazil, also reported to the club for their health checks -- all four players missed Barca's preseason tour of the U.S.

Germany goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who represented his country at the European Under-21 Championship last month, did accompany Barca on the U.S. tour. He was the fifth player to undergo a medical on Thursday.

The Blaugrana returned to Spain from Washington on Wednesday afternoon and the squad will resume training on Friday.

Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo will be the last player to join the team in the preseason on Monday.

Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta spoke on Thursday about the team's work ahead of their UEFA Super Cup final against Sevilla on Aug. 11 in Tbilisi, Georgia.

"There are positive things and others to improve, like at the start of every season," he said on the club's official website. "We are still trying to prepare ourselves as best we can through training sessions and matches and, beyond results, I think we have to be positive.

"We have been training 20 days, and everything has to be speeded up because competitive matches are coming so that's what we are doing.

"Everything is preparation, but when you are in the competitive stage, you want to come into in the best shape possible with everyone fit.

"We will keep preparing for what's coming, which is important."

Barcelona, coming off a Primera Division, Copa del Rey and Champions League Treble-winning campaign under first-year coach Luis Enrique, then take on Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Super Cup final next month.

Barca will compete in the FIFA Club World Cup later this year. If the club win all three trophies, they will replicate the feat achieved in 2009 under Josep Guardiola when capturing six titles in a year.

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