BARÇA PRESEASON 2025
The unexpected absence in Barça's first training session in Seoul: who is it?
Published New:29/07/2025 - 17:26h
Updated New:29/07/2025 - 17:30h
The 'Azulgrana' club is already training in Korea, but with a notable absence in defense. Will he be able to play against FC Seoul?
FC Barcelona is already in South Korea to play the remaining two matches of the 2025/26 preseason tour in Asia. The first of these will be against FC Seoul, a match that will take place on Thursday, July 31 (13:00 - Spain) in the Korean capital, at the Seoul World Cup Stadium.
Barcelona's first training session in Korea with a partial absence
Regarding this match, the 'Azulgrana' team has already completed its first training session on Korean soil. A day that included practically all members of the 'Culé' squad working normally, except for one exception.
The name in question is Eric García. The player from Martorell, in the work session carried out this Tuesday by the 'Culé' team at the Goyang Stadium, worked separately from his teammates. The reason? Apparently, the '24' suffers from a muscle overload in his left leg, a result of his participation in the match against Vissel Kobe (1-3).
It should not be overlooked that in the match between Catalans and Japanese, during the hydration break in the first half, it could be seen in the broadcast of the match how Eric García was being attended to and checked on his left leg. Although he was able to complete that first half —and even scored the goal at 33' that opened the scoring— he did not come out for the second half, being replaced by Jules Koundé.
Eric García and his muscle overload: Barça will not force it
In this sense, it is not expected that this small setback will sideline him from the matches against FC Seoul (07/31) and Daegu (08/04), as he has only done specific work as a precaution. It is clear that the 'Azulgrana' club will not force any player, understanding that it is only preseason work.
Now, with this physical setback of Eric García that, apparently, is not very serious... Will Flick give him the opportunity to see action against FC Seoul? We will have to see. In principle, for the right-back, Barcelona could start with Jules Koundé as a starter and, if the Catalan is not ready to play minutes —based on the premise that Hansi will make a total change of the squad in the second half, as he did against Vissel Kobe— the team from the 'Ciudad Condal' would have the option of Héctor Fort to reinforce that right side.
📌 Follow all the incidents of the 2025/26 preseason tour through Asia of FC Barcelona in FCBN
