There were significant concerns among the club’s followers as FC Barcelona started this season without strengthening one of the weakest areas of the team in the last season, the midfield pivot position.
Although the Blaugranes were linked with several players for this position, including Amadou Onana and Mikel Merino, they were ultimately unable to land any of them, mainly because of their weak financial conditions.
In such a scenario, Hansi Flick made his bet on the La Masia graduate Marc Bernal to be his starting pivot at the start of the season, and the youngster performed at a very high level in all the matches he played under the German coach.
However, an unfortunate injury cut off the good time he was having on the team, as he tore his ACL. This issue required him to undergo surgery, and the player is not expected to return to the pitch again this season.
However, SPORT has provided an update on his recovery process, and their report claims that the 17-year-old La Masia prodigy has already completed the first phase of this process, which is usually the most difficult.
The club took a lot of care for the youngster during this phase, as his leg was in a cast, and he was unable to move freely. Barcelona put him in a hotel room, where he was accompanied by his mother, to facilitate his trips to the recovery center.
Bernal is now already carrying out rehabilitation work in the pool, and is now able to move without his crutches. He has also now returned to La Masia and lives in the same way as he used to before the unfortunate injury struck.
The youngster still remains unable to train, but is in regular contact with his teammates, which can help him cope with these difficult months better.
Despite this good recovery, and the player’s desire to return as soon as possible, Barcelona will not take any kind of risks with him.
The Catalan club has set a 12-month deadline for his return to the pitch, which will end in August, but the midfielder is looking to get back in shape for the next pre-season. Hansi Flick himself is very attentive to his recovery.
