Back to work! Stars like Bellingham, Salah on preseason duty

After what must have been the longest season ever — or, at least, felt like it — with a midseason World Cup, a June Champions League final and then a slate of international fixtures, most players at Europe’s top clubs will have enjoyed a well-earned break after the 2023-24 campaign finally ended.

But no sooner had they got fully relaxed on the beach than it was time to report back to their clubs for preseason training. The new season is only a month away, after all.

Many of the biggest clubs began welcoming their top talent back to the fold this week as the fitness testing and gruelling training sessions began before they all head off across the globe on their preseason tours. Some players even got to meet their new coaches and teammates for the very first time.

With the Premier League and LaLiga kicking off their 2023-24 season on Aug. 11 and Ligue 1 beginning the next day before the Bundesliga and Serie A follow suit a week later, there is no time to waste.

Here is a roundup of the clubs and players who have already reported for preseason duty.

Arsenal

Pre-season preparations

Take a look inside our first day at adidas HQ in Germany

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 10, 2023

New summer signing Kai Havertz was welcomed into the Arsenal squad this week, and got reacquainted with former Chelsea teammate Jorginho at the club’s training camp in his native Germany.

The bikes are back pic.twitter.com/xqAMOFGQxA

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 10, 2023

Bukayo Saka also got the blood circulating with a nice gentle cycle ride around the grounds at the Bavarian sports complex.

Straight to work pic.twitter.com/s5uanEaWor

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 10, 2023

Well, it just wouldn’t be preseason without footage of…