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Even though FC Barcelona have won three in three games in the 2024/25 La Liga, it has not exactly been smooth sailing for new manager Hansi Flick.
There has been constant outside noise concerning the team’s Fair Play situation and problems with player registration. The German tactician had to make do with his marquee signing, Dani Olmo for the first two games because of the same.
On top of that, the injury list seems to be growing week after week even though we are just three weeks into the new season.
Barcelona have as many as seven players out on the sidelines currently – two of those injuries occurred last season while two more happened during the summer and three since the season started.
Gavi
It has been more than nine months since Gavi ruptured his ACL while on national team duty with Spain in November 2023. Having undergone surgery and rehab, the La Masia gem is getting closer and closer to his recovery.
Gavi has indeed started some light training but despite that, a comeback to proper on-field action is likely to come only in November – almost exactly a year after his injury.
Frenkie de Jong
The second player on the list who is carrying an injury from last season, Frenkie de Jong has been out of action since April when he hurt his ankle during El Clasico. It was initially expected that he would only be out for a few weeks.
But it has been almost five months since his injury and there have been no concrete updates about a return. However, latest reports suggest that the midfielder could return soon after the international break, with the game against Girona pencilled in for his comeback.
Ronald Araujo
Ronald Araujo suffered a hamstring injury in early July while playing for the Uruguayan national team at Copa America 2024.
One of the club captains, the 25-year-old underwent surgery soon after and is expected to be out for almost the entire year, with his return likely to take place in December.
Ansu Fati
Just when things were starting to look up for Ansu Fati under Hansi Flick in pre-season, the La Masia graduate succumbed to another injury in training and has been sidelined with Plantar fasciitis since July 24.
An exact timeline for Fati’s return has not been specified given the nature of his injury and everything will depend on his recovery progresses.
Andreas Christensen
The first player to get sidelined with injury in the new season, Andreas Christensen is out due to Achilles tendinopathy – an issue he has been struggling with since last season.
The defender is expected to be out for two months, although Barcelona’s medical reports submitted to La Liga suggest the period could be longer as they made use of his absence to register Dani Olmo. So, his return, at this point could happen between two to four months.
Eric Garcia
Another player who is out with Plantar fasciitis like Ansu Fati, Eric Garcia missed Barcelona’s game against Rayo Vallecano earlier this week due to the issue.
Like with Ansu, there is no fixed timeline for the defender’s return due to the nature of his injury. By the time the defender recovers, he might not even be at the club with Girona interested in signing him before the window closes.
Marc Bernal
The latest player to enter the infirmary at Barcelona, 17-year-old Marc Bernal suffered a serious knee injury during last night’s game against Rayo Vallecano.
It has since been confirmed that the youngster has ruptured the ACL in his left knee and has damaged his meniscus as well. As such, Bernal has said goodbye to the season, with his return likely to take place in ten to twelve months.
