Barcelona boss Quique Setien dons mask and gloves as Lionel Messi and fellow stars return to training

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Ben Hayward8 May 2020

Barcelona’s players returned to training on Friday after medical tests conducted earlier this week.

Following an absence of almost two months due to the coronavirus pandemic, the squad was back at the club’s Sant Joan Despi base for Covid-19 tests and fitness examinations on Wednesday.

The Catalan club were given the all clear to resume activities after receiving test results on Thursday and the players were put through their paces, albeit individually, at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper on Friday.

Manager Quique Setien wore a face mask and gloves as the likes of Lionel Messi, Gerard Pique, Luis Suarez - now fit after recovering from knee surgery - and Antoine Griezmann trained both with and without the ball.

“The players and staff were spread out across the Tito Vilanova field as well as pitches 2 and 3, meaning there was plenty of space for them to work out while respecting the health authorities’ social distancing requirements,” Barcelona said on their official website.

“The players did a number of exercises both on and off the ball based on adaptation to different on-field movements.

“The first team players trained at different times throughout the morning and will be following a similar routine on Saturday morning.”

Ousmane Dembele was the only player absent from the tests on Wednesday.

The French forward was unregistered by Barcelona in February after surgery in order for the club to bring in striker Martin Braithwaite in an emergency deal outside of the LaLiga transfer window.

Dembele, who can only feature in the Champions League now in 2019-20 but remains sidelined for around six months, is expected back for a coronavirus test at Barca’s training ground early next week.

Scroll through the gallery above to see pictures of Barcelona's stars back in training.

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