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The Chilean striker has been handed his number 9 shirt and was presented on Monday as a new member of the first team. Alexis has admitted that he is very happy to have become a Barcelona player

Known as the 'boy wonder', Alexis Sanchez (22) is the right-winger capable of playing in any of the three attacking positions. Fast and skilful, the Chilean also stands out for his tactical discipline.

Pedro Rodríguez spoke to reporters after training on Thursday and explained that the squad is excited about the season ahead and already working hard to ensure another successful campaign

The FC Barcelona first team was back at training on Monday, 51 days after the final at Wembley. There were 15 players involved in the first session of the season.

Sports director Andoni Zubizarreta has recognised that the negotiations to sign Alexis Sánchez and finalise Bojan Krkic's departure are almost complete. On Cesc, he insists that the negotiations have been clean.

The squad will be back in training on Monday –exactly 50 days since their Champions League triumph at Wembley. During their holiday break, the Club have made three important contract renewals and five of the players have won European international honours.

There has been a 400% increase in attendance of official Barça summer schools (FCB Camp) with respect to last year. More than 18,000 children are enjoying the summer camps organised by FC Barcelona.

FC Barcelona will face Girona FC in Tarragona’s Nou Estadi, in the semi finals of the Copa Catalunya on Monday, August 8. The other semi final is between RCD Espanyol and Nàstic de Tarragona.

On Monday FC Barcelona’s pre-season begins with five friendly matches, or to be more accurate, in the words of Barça’s coach Gaurdiola, with five non-official matches. Pep Guardiola has shown that he wants to win every match.

Barça have a year ahead of them full of challenges - to become the first team to retain the Champions League trophy, match the 4 successive Spanish League titles of the Dream Team and try and equal the historic six trophies of two years ago.

The new Barça B manager, Eusebio Sacristán, has told at his presentation press conference that he is loaded with energy going into a job he feels privileged to take. Eusebio congratulated his predecessor Luis Enrique and says he intends to continue his work.

FC Barcelona has announced an agreement with Pedro Rodríguez to extend his present contract for one more season. The new contract will expire in June 30th 2016. His buy-out clause has been increased from 90 to 150 million euros. He has scored 45 goals in the last two seasons.

FC Barcelona announced that the Catalan Andreu Fontàs will be playing with the first team in the 2011/12 season. His buy-out clause will be automatically raised to 30 million euros. He is another player from Barça’s junior teams that reaches the club’s main squad.

FC Barcelona’s coaching directorate has always defended the need to prioritise home grown talent and give the youngsters a chance to shine. Last week, the old Masia building closed, as a new and larger one has been built in Barça’s Sporting City. Besides, the contract extension for Thiago Alcántara is the latest example of this policy.

Over the last few years, surfing has emerged as a major sporting activity in Catalonia. Currently, there are approximately 7,000 Catalan surfers and this number is set to rise in the near future. New technologies, affordable equipment and an increase in surfing courses offered in Catalonia are the keys to the surfing boom.