Barcelona were left devastated by Bernal’s injury. As a result, a sort of “consolation prize” is being prepared for him: a new contract. It has been in the pipeline over the last seven days, and now Marca say that official negotiations are to get underway next week.

Bernal only renewed over the summer, although he could also do so for three years because he is under 18. He does not reach this milestone until next May, so it could be that a new contract takes effect at this stage, which would allow him to sign on at Barcelona for another five or six seasons