Barcelona lives in expectation of Ansu Fati’s return and loses jewel for a year
Striker works on the field with the team. Frenkie de Jong still has no return date, and midfielder Bernal undergoes surgery
Barcelona are enjoying a great start to the season. With a 100% record in the first four rounds of the Spanish Championship , the team led by German Hansi Flick can count on a “homegrown” reinforcement for the rest of La Liga . The coaching staff is awaiting the return of Ansu Fati after the FIFA World Cup . On the other hand, Dutchman Frenkie De Jong has an undetermined return date, and young midfielder Bernal is expected to be out for a year .
Ansu Fati, who had already done some exercises on the field last week, worked with the group on Monday. As he trained without reduced load, he should be on the list of players for the match against Girona, next Sunday (15). Barça’s number 10 is recovering from plantar fasciitis in his right foot, suffered on July 24, still during the Catalan team’s pre-season.
On the other hand, the forecasts are much less optimistic for the midfielder, who has not yet recovered from the sprained right ankle that caused him to miss the last European Championship. Although he has not yet done any training on the field, coach Hansi Flick remains optimistic about the player’s return.
I hope he doesn’t need surgery. He’s in the process of recovery, he’s taken a big step, and now we have to wait. He’s training well and we’ll see. I hope he can come back after the break.”
— Hansi Flick, Barcelona coach
The mood in Catalonia is uncertain about the recovery of one of the team’s captains. The club’s medical department is following a conservative approach to treatment so far, with no need for surgery. The Blaugrana board is monitoring the situation with concern.
Young man will be out of action for a year
Another La Masia prospect who will be out for a long time is Marc Bernal . The midfielder, just 17, suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and an associated injury to his lateral meniscus , and is expected to be out for around 12 months. This is the same injury that Gavi suffered in November last year, when he was playing for Spain in a Euro 2016 qualifier .
He underwent surgery on Monday morning (9), 13 days after the serious injury suffered in the match against Rayo Vallecano, last August.
“One less day to enjoy what I love most. Thank you all for your support,” said the athlete on his social media after the procedure.
Teammates such as Ferran Torres, Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo left messages of support for the young Catalan prospect in his post.
