17-year-old Barcelona gem already recovering faster than expected from his ACL injury | OneFootball

There is no doubt that FC Barcelona have been largely unlucky with respect to injuries to some of their key players in this initial phase of the 2024-25 season.

Since the start of the season, the Blaugranes have seen two of their starting players suffer long-term injuries. One of these players was the German goalkeeper Marc Andre Ter Stegen, who is suffering from a torn patellar tendon and is not expected to return till the end of the season.

The other player was the youngster Marc Bernal, who tore his ACL after starting the first games of the season for Hansi Flick. The 17-year-old midfielder is expected to remain on the sidelines for around one year, and like Ter Stegen, is not expected to play again this season.

However, SPORT reports that the latest check-ups conducted on the La Masia graduate showed that his recovery is already significantly ahead of what was expected at this point in time, and he has already started the work to strengthen his muscles only around 100 days after being operated upon by Dr. Joan Carles Monllau.

In fact, Barcelona have already shared some images of the player working with weights and rubber bands, with the aim of gaining more mobility.

However, despite these good early indications, there is no doubt that the phases that now await Bernal are going to be even more complex, and that is why, no changes are expected in the roadmap already established for his return.

The Blaugranes will use their experience with Gavi to their advantage in this case, and they are clear that the midfielder will not take to the field before September, when he will have completed a year of being on the sidelines.

This care with the youngster is understandable, as Barcelona see him as their present and the future, which was quite clear from how they renewed his contract even after he had suffered this injury.