Barcelona has released an official statement confirming their key attacker will be sidelined for three months due to a serious injury.
The striker, already turning heads with his clinical finishing and physical presence beyond his years, pulled up in distress during a key Copa del Rey clash, sparking immediate fears for Hansi Flick’s long-term succession planning post-Lewandowski.
Club medics initially downplayed the issue, but Wednesday’s tests revealed the grim extent, sidelining their golden prospect until May and testing Deco’s depth in nurturing elite forwards.
That star is Oscar Gistau, the explosive La Masia gem whose blistering pace, hold-up play, and goal poise have fast-tracked him into Barça Atlètic appearances under Julen Bellet, where he notched an assist in limited minutes, as per the official Barcelona statement.
Fresh off a mid-January return from a partial lateral meniscus tear in his left knee last season—preceded by a severe muscle issue—Gistau was powering Juvenil A’s title charge when disaster struck.
Subbed before the 30th minute in Tuesday’s quarter-final win over Las Palmas at Johan Cruyff, he grabbed his hamstring during a sprint, exiting amid concern despite the 1-0 triumph led by Pol Planas.
The small tear in his hamstring’s lower area demands 12 weeks of rehab, wiping out the season’s climax, including potential senior cameos and international youth duties.
For Flick’s quadruple-chasing side, it’s a stark reminder of striker scarcity.
Barcelona’s cautious medical protocol prioritises full recovery, avoiding the relapse pitfalls that plagued talents like Ansu Fati.
Gistau’s trajectory—scoring machine in cadets, now senior-ready—hyped him as Lewandowski 2.0.
This hiatus tests resilience, but La Masia’s track record shines through.
Deco eyes short-term fixes like loan returns, while Gistau’s comeback could ignite next season’s first-team breakthrough.
Amid Barça’s injury plague—from Pedri to loanees—the club doubles down on youth fortitude, betting Gistau emerges unbreakable.
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