Rodri Adjusts to Barcelona as Cancelo Returns to Training

Rodri’s first real day as a Barcelona player did not come with the fanfare of a full session under Hansi Flick. It came on a separate pitch, on his own programme, away from the main group.

The World Cup winner, Barça’s marquee summer arrival, worked individually on Friday despite having already taken part in the pre-Joan Gamper Trophy activation. Fresh from his holidays and only a few days into pre-season rhythm, the midfielder is being handled with care as the club look to sharpen him up without cutting corners.

He insists he is ready.

“I’m ready to play already. The back operation that was talked about was nothing, it was an outpatient procedure. I’m ready to train with the team and, when the coach decides, once I’ve got some rhythm, I’ll be ready to play. I hope it will be as soon as possible,” Rodri said at his presentation after the transfer was confirmed.

For now, though, the 30-year-old Madrid-born midfielder is on a tailored plan. While the rest of the squad stepped up preparations for Sunday’s La Liga opener away to Elche at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero, Rodri did not work at the same intensity as his new teammates.

The door to a debut is not closed. Not yet.

With one more training session to come on Saturday and Flick’s press conference still to be heard, Barça will wait before making a definitive call on whether Rodri features in the first official match of the season. The German coach has been crystal clear in recent weeks: he will not gamble on anyone’s fitness. The staff want every player arriving at full speed, not limping into the campaign.

While Rodri was eased in, another familiar face threw himself straight into the thick of it.

Joao Cancelo trained normally with the group on Friday, finally back at work after several tense weeks waiting for his return to Spotify Camp Nou to be officially completed. The Portuguese full-back, who had been stuck in limbo as the deal dragged, now has the ball at his feet again and a place in Flick’s drills.

Whether that is enough to earn him a spot in the squad for Elche is another matter. Barça still have to register Cancelo before he can play, and at this stage none of the new signings are registered. Even Andreas Christensen, who renewed his contract this summer, is yet to be inscribed.

On the pitch, though, Cancelo looked like any other first-team regular. He worked alongside all available senior players and a cluster of youngsters called in to fill out the session: Eder Aller, Xavi Espart, Jordi Pesquer, Ebrima Tunkara, Orian Goren, Hamza Abdelkarim, Brian Farinas and Alvaro Cortes.

Flick now stands at the intersection of optimism and caution. Rodri feels ready. Cancelo is finally training. The season starts on Sunday. How bold will he be with his new toys?