Birmingham & Preston - Barcelona's unlikely UK camp

Birmingham & Preston - Barcelona's unlikely UK campImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Hansi Flick led Barcelona to the Spanish title by eight points last seasonByNick MashiterFootball reporterPublished2 minutes agoAs Premier League clubs jet off to the Far East and the United States, Barcelona have made the Midlands their home.Manager Hansi Flick has brought his La Liga champions to St George's Park in Staffordshire for a training camp this week as their pre-season preparations continue.Barca's eight World Cup winners - including Lamine Yamal - remain on a break after their triumph with Spain this month, but new signing Karim Adeyemi is included after his summer move from Borussia Dortmund.In addition to Lamine Yamal, his Spain team-mates Ferran Torres, Joan Garcia, Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsi, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Pedri and Lamine Yamal are also on a post-World Cup break.Two friendlies against Championship sides await - against Birmingham at St Andrew's on Friday, and against Preston behind closed doors at St George's Park on Monday - with the knock-on effects of the World Cup playing a part in the organising of those matches.Bringing Barca to St Andrew'sImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Lionel Messi trained at St George's Park during Barcelona's last visit 11 years agoBarcelona ruled out a long-haul tour to the United States because of the World Cup schedule.As well as missing their Spain stars, they are without another six senior internationals, including England's Anthony Gordon following his £80m move from Newcastle. Brazil's Raphinha, France's Jules Kounde and Uruguay's Ronald Araujo are absent too. Having opted out of a transatlantic tour, Barca had spent a large part of the year looking at their options, trying to work around the fact that their players return at different times because of the World Cup. Birmingham had been speaking to the club for a number of months as they looked to boos...