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Birmingham & Preston - Barcelona's unlikely UK camp
['Nick Mashiter']
BBC Sport - Sport
As 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.