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Barcelona’s promising midfielder Marc Bernal is making significant progress in his recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. The 17-year-old suffered the setback during a match against Rayo Vallecano in August, cutting short what had been a breakout campaign.
Bernal had impressed during pre-season, and his emergence alongside Marc Casado led Barcelona to forgo signing a new midfielder last summer. Head coach Hansi Flick still believes in the young talent and is eager to reintegrate him into the squad once he fully recovers.
While Bernal is determined to make his return, he remains cautious and is not rushing his rehabilitation. As a result, his comeback is not expected until the start of the 2025-26 season at the earliest. However, according to Sport, his recovery is ahead of schedule, and he is set to begin individual training on the pitch in the coming days—an important milestone in his road to full fitness.
The young midfielder has been working relentlessly over the past few months, which has contributed to his faster-than-expected progress. While there is optimism that he could be available for Barcelona’s pre-season next summer, the club is prioritizing his long-term well-being. Given his age, Barcelona is taking a cautious approach to avoid any setbacks that could impact his future career.
For now, Bernal will continue his rehabilitation at a steady pace, with hopes of returning stronger when the time is right.
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