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18:38 GMT, Sunday, 20 July 2008 19:38 UK

Barca stars heading for Scotland

Alexander Hleb is all smiles at Barca training

New Barcelona signings Alexander Hleb, Daniel Alves and Gerard Pique have been named in the squad heading for games against Hibernian and Dundee United.

The Spanish club arrive in their St Andrews training camp on Monday and face Hibs at Murrayfield on Thursday and United at Tannadice on Saturday.

It is a quick return for midfielder Hleb after his £11.8m move from Arsenal earlier this month.

Alves arrived for £23.5m from Sevilla and fellow defender Pique from Man Utd.

Pique returned to the Catalan club for £5m four years after heading for Old Trafford.

Despite speculation about their Barca futures, former Arsenal star Thierry Henry and fellow striker Samuel Eto'o are also in the squad heading for the pre-season training camp in Scotland and could again form a high-powered attack along with Lionel Messi.

"Cesc Fabregas explained a lot of things to me about this club"
Barcelona midfielder Alexander Hleb

Hleb, meanwhile, courted controversy ahead of the trip to Scotland by hinting that former Arsenal team-mate Cesc Fabregas, who left Barca five years ago, could join him at the Nou Camp.

"Cesc Fabregas explained a lot of things to me about this club," the Belarus international told Barca TV. "His time in the academy with players like Pique, Messi and so on.

"He loves this club. Now he's at Arsenal, but who knows if in the future he'll come back to Barca?"

Hleb is looking forward to linking up with Henry - and meeting the rest of his new team-mates.

"He's my friend," he continued. "We spent two years together. We understand each other and I'm very pleased to be back with him.

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"The others? I know all of them because I've seen them on television and of course I like the way all of them play.

"I know that it's a fantastic team. With great players, great stars. What I want is to integrate myself, play some great football with them and, obviously, to win."

Barca, who will train at St Andrews University Sport Centre, will be together under the stewardship of new coach Josep Guardiola for the first time.

Xavi, Euro 2008 player of the tournament, and other members of Spain's victorious side will join the rest of the squad in Scotland on Wednesday.




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Related to this story:

Hleb completes move to Barcelona (16 Jul 08 |  Europe )
Barca seal £23.5m deal for Alves (02 Jul 08 |  Europe )
I don't want to rush - Eto'o (24 Jun 08 |  African )
Barcelona complete Pique signing (27 May 08 |  Man Utd )
Barca face Hibs and Dundee United (20 May 08 |  Scottish Premier )

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