Barcelona's Thomas Vermaelen injury blow

Barcelona have said new signing Thomas Vermaelen is out of action with a hamstring injury suffered at the World Cup.

The Belgium international, who moved to the Camp Nou from Arsenal earlier this month, will have physio treatment, with its progress determining the kind of training he is able to do, a club statement said.

The statement added: "New signing Thomas Vermaelen injured his right hamstring while playing at the World Cup in June. His presence in training sessions will depend on how his recovery progresses."

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Thomas Vermaelen joins Barcelona

Thomas Vermaelen has agreed to join Barcelona in a permanent transfer for an undisclosed fee.
Belgium international Vermaelen, 28, who joined Arsenal from Ajax in June 2009, made a total of 150 appearances for the Gunners in all competitions, during which time he scored 15 goals.
Vermaelen had been club captain for the past two seasons and was no stranger to the captain’s armband, having previously held the role with Ajax, where he spent nine years after joining from Belgian side Germinal Beerschot. Vermaelen has also skippered the Belgium national team and has now made 47 appearances for his country.
Vermaelen passed his medical in Barcelona on Saturday. His transfer is subject to the completion of the normal regulatory process.

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Transfer news: Arsenal 'still in market' but Arsene Wenger coy on Sami Khedira and admits Thomas Vermaelen may go

 

Arsene Wenger is planning to bring more new players to Arsenal this summer but admits captain Thomas Vermaelen may leave.

Vermaelen, who spent most of last season on the bench as Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny formed a centre-half partnership, has been linked with a move to Manchester United.
And speaking after Arsenal's pre-season opener at Boreham Wood, where his side won 2-0, Wenger said: "I cannot guarantee he will stay, but should he go I would bring another centre-back in for sure."
 

Thomas Vermaelen: Could leave Arsenal this summer

 Wenger has already recruited Alexis Sanchez and Mathieu Debuchy this summer and will "definitely" bring in a goalkeeper to compete with Wojciech Szczesny.
Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira is another reported target, and Wenger said: "It's not over, there's still a long way to go.
"I can't give you any names because you're never sure if you can do what you want, but we're still out there to strengthen our squad."
Aaron Ramsey was among the senior players to feature in Saturday's friendly - decided by Kris Olsson's goal and a Benik Afobe penalty - and there was an appearance for Abou Diaby, who missed all but the tail-end of last season with a knee injury.
Wenger said: "We have big competition in midfield, but we have many players who didn't play many games last year - Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jack Wilshere, Abou Diaby.
"They're back now but it's very difficult to predict how fit they will be at the start of the season."

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