Gerard Deulofeu is almost recovered from his injury

Gerard Deulofeu, who is on loan to Everton FC this season, will go through the recovery phase of his hamstring injury in Barcelona, overseen by the English club’s medical team.

Deulofeu underwent tests yesterday afternoon under supervision of FC Barcelona’s medical team, which confirmed the hamstring injury in his right leg. 

He will be sidelined between six to eight weeks. He will undergo his recovery phase in Barcelona, in co-ordination with the Everton medical services.

In his time at Everton, Deulofue has played in 14 matches, 4 of those in the starting eleven, between Premier League and League Cup.  In total he has scored 3 goals for Robert Martínez’s team. His injury in the match against Fulham came at a time when he was beginning to have more impact on the team’s performances. Read more about FC Barcelona soccer camps Ontario.

Iniesta’s contract is renewed until 2018

FC Barcelona’s President, Sandro Rosell, announced in the media the renewal of Andrés Iniesta’s contract until 2018. The player’s contract was due to expire in 2015, but has now been officially extended for three years.

Iniesta will be 34 on June 30 of 2018, which will mean he will have been at the club for an incredible 22 years. He first arrived at FC Barcelona in September 1996, when he was only 12.

By the 2005/06 season he had become a key member of what became a Liga and Champions League double winning side. From then on, Iniesta became one of Europe’s most admired footballers as he helped the team to its greatest ever period of success.

His goals at Stamford Bridge opened the way to a dream in 2009, and a run of titles that has continued through to the present day. He has won no fewer than 16 major trophies with FC Barcelona in five and a half seasons, as well as enjoying further success in the international arena, winning back-to-back European Championships and the first ever World Cup for Spain.

Iniesta has made 479 official appearances for FC Barcelona, scoring 48 goals and winning a total of 21 major trophies. Read morea about FC Barcelona soccer camps Toronto.

Neymar Jr scores five goals in four days

After his hat trick in the Champions League, Neymar Jr added to his goalscoring streak this evening. Between Wednesday (Celtic FC) and this Saturday (Villarreal), the Brazilian has scored five goals, the same number of goals he’s scored in his opening 19 matches with FC Barcelona.

The efficiency of the young Brazilian in his last two matches make him the second highest goalscorer of the team, with 10 goals. His tally is only bested by the injured Leo Messi, who’s scored 14.

The FC Barcelona player scored from the 11-meter mark once again this evening. In Messi’s absence, the responsibility to take penalty kicks has been given to Iniesta, Cesc and Neymar Jr, who scored a spot kick this Saturday after netting a penalty against Celtic on Wednesday. 

The Brazilian has scored a total of 35 goals from the penalty spot in his career, counting the ones he’s netted for Barça, Santos and the Brazilian national team. Read More about FC Barcelona Soccer Camps in Toronto.

FC Barcelona’s new record: 54 weeks on the top

FC Barcelona set a new record this weekend making it 54 weeks on the top as league leaders. 

With the win over Villarreal, Barça stays at the top of the table on goal difference above Atletico Madrid, who beat Valencia 3-1.

The 54 consecutive weeks as leaders beat Real Madrid's record set between the end of the 1986/87 (15 rounds) and 1987/88 ( 38 rounds).  Read more about youth soccer camps.

Barça's run began last season following their  5-1 win over Real Sociedad and they began this year's campaign with an equally convincing 7-0 win over Levante to start the season in top spot. In all, the team have occupied the top spot for 16 weeks this season to add to last year's 38 weeks.

Gerard Piqué, proud of his family, members of FC Barcelona

The family character of FC Barcelona has always been one of its main identifying features.  This December, issue 66 of our members’ magazine ‘Revista Barça’ features the family of Gerard Piqué. 

The Piqués can boast four generations of Barça members, including grandfather, Amador Bernabeu, who was a Club director for 23 years and now represents FC Barcelona at the UEFA.

Amador Bernabeu shares his passion for FC Barcelona with his wife Montserrat, his daughters Montse and Gemma, his grandchildren Gerard, Aina, Marc and Monat and his great grandson Milan, all of whom were enrolled as Club members from birth.  

They remember about their greatest Barça memories and Gerard reveals the depth of his love for the Club: “Every night I sing the Barça anthem because it’s the only song I know all the way through”.

The magazine also explains the new rules relating to the free entry of young children to the Camp Nou, and has a close-up look at basketball star Kostas Papanikolaou.  

The women’s football team describe how they have reached the quarterfinals of the Champions League while brothers Joan, Josep and Jordi Roca, owners of the recently designated best restaurant in the world, reveal their Barça connections. Read more about FCBescola camp.

The 16 players are ready for the game against Cartagena

Tata Martino has named a sixteen-man squad for the Cup game against Cartagena at 22.00 on Tuesday night, with Adriano recalled and Xavi, Piqué and Busquets rested.

The squad trained at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper on Monday morning with Gerard Piqué back after missing Sunday's session with a stomach upset. Dani Alves trained again with the rest of the players.

The squad is made up by:

Pinto, Olazábal, Montoya, Fàbregas, Puyol, Pedro, Iniesta, Alexis, Neymar Jr, Mascherano, Bartra, Song, Jordi Alba, Tello, Adriano and Sergi Roberto. Read more bout FC Barcelona Camp

FC Barcelona regrets the loss of Nelson Mandela

FC Barcelona has regretted the loss of Nelson Mandela, who played such a prominent role in the fight against Apartheid, and went on to become the first black president of South Africa. 

Mandela died last night in Johannesburg at the age of 95, and in the game against Cartagena, the Barça players will be wearing black armbands in memory of one of the greatest public figures of our time, and who set such a wonderful example not only with his leadership, but also with his compassion and forgiveness. More about FC Barcelona Soccer camps in Ontario.

In the summer of 2007, when FC Barcelona were in South Africa for a friendly with the Mamelodi Sundowns, a club delegation made up of members of the board and several players visited Mandela at the headquarters of the Johannesburg based foundation that carries his name.

The president of FC Barcelona, Sandro Rosell, and several players have expressed their sorrow in messages lamenting the loss of the charismatic African leader.

Jordi Alba, Alves and Piqué are possible defenders for FIFA FIFPro World XI

FC Barcelona’s Jordi Alba, Dani Alves and Gerard Piqué are among the candidates to be in the back four of the FIFA FIFPro World XI. The 20 candidates for this position were announced today Wednesday following votes from their colleagues around the world. More about FC Barceona Winter Soccer Camps.

The four players that get the most votes will be included in the FIFA FIFPro World XI, which will be announced at the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala in Zurich next January.

Gerard Piqué and Dani Alves both featured in last season’s edition of the FIFA FIFPro World XI.

FC Barcelona already has four potential members of the XI, for in addition to Alves, Alba and Piqué, last Monday Víctor Valdés was named among the four candidate goalkeepers. On Friday, December 6th, the names of the 15 midfielders will be revealed, and the 15 strikers will be announced next Monday.

FC Barcelona, winner of National Sport Prizes award

FC Barcelona received the Copa Stadium Award at an event held this Monday, which is given to an organisation or person for special contributions during the year in promoting and encouraging sport. 

The Club President Sandro Rosell, accompanied by vice-president Carles Vilarrubí and board members Eduard Coll and Manel Arroyo, picked up the award  –relating to work done in 2012- at a ceremony held in the Palacio del Prado in Madrid and presided over by the Spanish Royal Family.

This is the fifth time that FC Barcelona has won the Copa Stadium, having previously been awarded the prize in 1925, 1941, 1957 and 1997. The award is the oldest sporting prize in Spain.

The National Prizes are awarded every year by Spain’s Sport Board and chosen by a jury made up of representatives of that body and the Spanish Olympic Committee, as well as sporting federations, autonomous regions, local councils, media and sports people. Read more about FC Barcelona Soccer Camps in Toronto.

Jordi Alba returns to training

The FC Barcelona first team players trained on Tuesday morning at the Ciutat Esportiva. 

The main talking point of the session was the return to group training of Jordi Alba. Read more FC Barcelona Winter Soccer Camp in Toronto.

The left back has been recovering from a left leg injury suffered during training on 10th October.  This was the first training session following the defeat away to Athletic Club and also the first to prepare for Friday’s Cup clash with Cartagena.

The senior players were joined by Patric and Adama from the reserves.

Meanwhile, Andrés Iniesta was unable to take part in the session due to a sore hamstring in his left leg.