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BARCELONA, Spain -- The core of Barcelonas Champions League-winning squad has returned to preseason training without star forward Lionel Messi. Malcom Floyd Blue Womens Jersey . Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta were among a group of 16 players that reported for physical tests Monday morning and will undergo a light training session later. Messi and Argentina teammates Javier Mascherano and Gabriel Milito, plus Barcelonas Brazilian players, Daniel Alves and Adriano, have been given extended leave after playing in the Copa America. Argentina lost its quarterfinal against Uruguay on Saturday and Brazil went out at the same stage to Paraguay on Sunday. Injured captain Carles Puyol will also miss the opening sessions, while forward Bojan Krkic was excused ahead of his expected move to Italian club Roma. Puyol will continue rehabilitation work after having an operation on his left knee in June. Barcelona has not signed nor sold any players, but Spanish media is reporting that a move worth up to C40 million ($56 million) for Chile winger Alexis Sanchez is imminent. Sanchez has been representing his country at the Copa America, but negotiations with his Italian club Udinese are expected to accelerate after Chile lost in the quarterfinals to Venezuela on Sunday. Barcelona also has a long-standing interest in Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas, a former Barcelona academy player. Lance Alworth Chargers Jersey . More than a month after signing the free agent centre, Bynum is expected to make his debut with Indiana on Tuesday night against Boston. Shareece Wright Chargers Jersey . - The Atlanta Falcons have signed former offensive lineman Gabe Carimi.MOOSE JAW, Sask. -- Moose Jaw, Sask., will host Canadas top womens curlers for the 2015 Scotties Tournament of Hearts. The Canadian Curling Association announced the site Wednesday for the Feb. 14-22 event at Mosaic Place, marking the first time the Saskatchewan city will host the Canadian womens championships. Its not the first time Mosaic Place has hosted world class curling, though -- the 2012 Capital One Canada Cup of Curling broke attendance records for the event at the 4,465-seat facility. "The 2012 Canada Cup was a shining example of a city supporting our sport and our curlers," CCA CEO Greg Stremlaw said in a release. For the first time, there will be a pre-qualifyiing event that will determine the final 12-team field for the Scotties. Cheap Antonio Gates Jersey. . Fifteen teams -- the 14 member associations and the defending champion from the 2014 Scotties -- will be eligible to compete, meaning Northern Ontario will make its Scotties debut in Moose Jaw. Four teams will compete in the pre-qualifying round just before round-robin play begins to determine the final two entries. Moose Jaw has played host to several other major curling events, including the 1983 world womens championship, the 1979 world junior mens championship and the 1994 Canadian senior mens and womens championships. The 2014 Scotties Tournament of Hearts is Feb. 1-9 in Montreal. ' ' ' |
