3 Barcelona Players to Watch During Pre-Season

Barcelona are taking part in the International Champions Cup in the United States, and it will be a good opportunity to get a look at the squad as they gear up for the new season.

They are set to face LA Galaxy, Manchester United, Chelsea and Fiorentina, which is a good mix of opponents.

Here we select three players who will be interesting to follow during the pre-season campaign, as they could have a big impact during the months that lie ahead.

Obviously, the likes of Neymar and Luis Suarez have shown their worth already, so we'll be looking at men who need to demonstrate what they've got.

Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal would have been obvious choices as the new signings, but per Sport, they will not be allowed to play because of Barcelona's transfer ban.

Thomas Vermaelen

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Good things come to those who wait. Thomas Vermaelen had to wait the entirety of last season, eventually making his Barca debut against Deportivo la Coruna on the final day.

The centre-back, signed from Arsenal last summer, suffered injury blow after injury blow, and his continued absence was rumoured to be part of the reason former sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta was relieved of his duties in January, according to Barca Blaugranes.

He claimed the Belgian was ready to deliver immediately, but he couldn't have been more wrong.

Fortunately for Barcelona, Gerard Pique found his best form once more and struck up a strong partnership with Javier Mascherano.

Between those two, Jeremy Mathieu and the occasional performance from Marc Bartra, Barcelona's defence was sturdy.

But now the fans, and probably manager Luis Enrique himself, will want to see what Vermaelen has to offer.

He should finally have the chance to get some football under his belt during the International Champions Cup fixtures.

With Mascherano out of the picture for a while, given his Copa America exertions with Argentina, now is Vermaelen's time to shine.

Sergi Samper

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Xavi cannot be replaced, and everybody knows it. Nobody can offer what he did. However, his role in the squad as a central midfielder can be filled.

Rafinha will hope to step up and play more for the side this season, but Luis Enrique wanted to bring back Denis Suarez from Sevilla, where he is on loan.

However, FIFA blocked the move, saying he could not be registered to play for the Catalans until January, per Sport.

Therefore, Barcelona must look for a new central-midfield option, and young Sergi Samper may just be it.

At the moment, he plays the same role as Sergio Busquets, which isn't ideal. Given the first-teamer has only just turned 27, it makes sense for Samper to adapt his game to a complementary rather than matching role.

If Samper can learn to play a little further up the pitch, he may find he is handed some opportunities this season.

The player himself had already pledged to do his best in the upcoming International Champions Cup matches.

He said, relayed by Sport: "I know that it will be difficult, but I will try to do my best in pre-season. I'm excited and really motivated to prove that I am ready, that I am prepared. I have the best players in my position, but I am prepared."

Samper has a lot of potential, and Barcelona fans tuning in for the pre-season clashes would do well to keep their eye on him if Luis Enrique hands him a chance.

Munir El Haddadi

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Rewind back a year and Munir El Haddadi was taking everyone by surprise, scoring against Elche in the first game of the season.

Luis Enrique plucked the youngster out of Barcelona B and gave him a shot in the first team.

Luis Suarez's return and the subsequent form of the trio up front prevented further opportunities, so Munir will be keen to impress in pre-season.

Lionel Messi and Neymar won't be around for a bit because of their efforts at the Copa America, so spaces have been opened in the front line.

Arda Turan is ineligible thanks to that FIFA-imposed transfer ban, so there is plenty of room for Munir to make an impact and get himself into the coach's thinking once again.

Munir, along with fellow young forward Sandro, has been promoted to the first-team squad this season, taking his medical tests with the other first-team stars.

He's had time to get used to life as a player in the best squad in the world, so it's now time for him to show he's worth his place.