Barcelona teenage prodigy out for 3-4 weeks after injury setback – report | OneFootball

Barcelona have confirmed the first injury of the pre-season. After completing eight training sessions, the squad seems to be feeling the physical demands of returning to action after the summer break.

The first player to go down is one of the young talents involved in pre-season preparations under Hansi Flick.

Indeed, Barcelona issued a medical statement confirming that youngster Ibrahim Diarra has suffered a muscle tear in the rectus femoris of his right leg.

At least three weeks out

Although the statement from Barça did not specify the duration of Diarra’s recovery, SPORT now reports that injuries of this nature typically require three to four weeks of rest and rehabilitation.

This means the 18-year-old versatile forward will be out for close to a month, meaning his hopes of travelling to Japan and South Korea for the summer friendlies have been dashed.

This comes as a blow to the Malian prodigy’s ambition to impress Flick and secure a place in the senior squad.

Ibrahim Diarra is injured. (Photo courtesy: X/FCBarcelonaB)

Diarra, who has received significant interest from other clubs, was part of the Juvenil A side managed by Juliano Belletti that won the treble last season after arriving in the winter.

The 18-year-old gem grew into a key player by the end of the season and was picked by Flick to be a part of the pre-season preparations with the first-team roster.

Diarra’s situation for this summer remains unclear. The plan has been for him to be a key figure for Barça Atletic under Belletti’s leadership, although doubts persist due to the team’s relegation to the Segunda RFEF.

Diarra’s injury, expected to sideline him for around a month, may cool any talks of a potential move and increase the chances that he remains at the club for the time being.