Lionel Messi has returned to Barcelona seven days ahead of schedule and has been included on the list of 25 players travelling to England for preseason training, the club announced on Saturday.
Messi, who led Argentina to the Copa America Centenario final last month, had been scheduled to return on Aug. 1, after taking a holiday. However those plans have changed.
Barcelona are to leave for England on Monday, and are expected to stay five days at St George's Park before beginning their preseason friendly campaign with an International Champions Cup match against Celtic in Dublin on July 30 (1 p.m. ET, on ESPN).
In addition to the Celtic match, the Blaugrana will participate in friendlies on Aug. 3 against Premier League champions Leicester City (2 p.m. ET, on ESPN) in Sweden and on Aug. 6 against Liverpool in London (12:15 p.m. ET, on ESPN).
�� Leo Messi to join the squad travelling to St. George's Park training camp on Monday #FCBLive pic.twitter.com/kzSxeDCWoA
- FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 23, 2016
As well as Messi, Barca confirmed the likes of Luis Suarez, Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal will be among 13 senior players at the National Football Centre. There will also be 12 members from the club's youth ranks.
International stars Javier Mascherano, Andres Iniesta, Claudio Bravo, Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic aren't expected to be back with the team until August, however.
It is also unlikely that Neymar or Rafinha will join up with their club before La Liga kicks off on Aug. 20 as they are with Brazil at this summer's Olympic football tournament in Rio de Janeiro, which is being played between Aug. 3 and 20.
And it remains to be seen which senior players will be ready to feature in the Spanish Supercopa games against Sevilla on Aug. 14 and 17.
Dates for Barcelona players' returns
July 25: Lionel Messi, Arda Turan.
Aug. 1: Gerard Pique, Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta, Claudio Bravo, Javier Mascherano, Jordi Alba and Thomas Vermaelen.
Aug. 8: Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Samuel Umtiti, Lucas Digne, Cristiano Tello, Douglas and Martin Montoya.
Neymar and Rafinha's return dates are to be confirmed after their participation in the Olympic Games has concluded.