Midfield worries intensify for Barcelona as key return is delayed, dealing a fresh setback with the pivotal star now ruled out longer.
Already grappling with a string of injuries and suspensions across the squad, the club’s depth in the middle of the park looks dangerously thin heading into the weekend’s crucial fixture against Athletic Club.
While management had hoped for a full squad after the international break to reset and regain momentum, the latest developments have cast a long shadow over any optimism.
The coaching staff is left scrambling to find solutions with limited resources, well aware that every player counts as the calendar intensifies and fatigue sets in.
Training sessions are more tense, recovery programs have been accelerated, and the medical team is working overtime to ready as many bodies as possible for selection.
At the center of this latest concern stands Marc Casado, whose injury woes have flared up at the worst possible moment, as reported by Mundo Deportivo.
Marc Casado, who was expected to play a pivotal role in midfield for this fixture, has not managed to rejoin group training since suffering a sharp pain in his adductor during warm-ups before the Celta Vigo match.
Early reports indicated a minor issue, but it has kept him confined to individual gym sessions rather than full-pitch activity, and the club’s medical staff is erring on the side of caution as his recovery drags on.
This pessimistic outlook makes his appearance against Athletic Club highly unlikely, presenting a major selection headache for the coaching team.
These problems are compounded by the simultaneous absence or questionable fitness of other midfield stars, with Frenkie de Jong suspended, Gavi long-term injured, and Pedri still not fully fit.
As Barcelona prepares to face Athletic Club, all eyes will be on how the coaching staff adapts and improvises amid this mounting injury crisis.
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