Barcelona release official statement confirming defender is out for 12 months

The club’s medical staff confirmed that the player has suffered a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, an injury that typically requires surgery and a long‑term rehabilitation process.

The defender picked up the problem during the Barcelona away match, leaving the field in visible discomfort and forcing an early substitution.

FC Barcelona added that the Uruguayan will be operated on in the coming days, after which the club will publish a new‑phase recovery timeline.

The defender confirmed in the statement is Patricio Pacifico, the 20‑year‑old Uruguayan on loan from Defensor Sporting, who joined Barcelona in January and had quickly become a regular starter for the B team, as per the official Barcelona statement.

Since his debut, Pacifico has played in seven matches, all as a starter, and even scored a goal, underlining how quickly he had adapted to the Blaugrana environment.

Losing him for up to a year represents a major blow for the B‑team’s defensive options and for Pacifico’s own development, as the ACL rupture will interrupt what had been a promising introduction to European football.

For Barcelona, the injury adds another challenge to the dynamics of the Atlètic project, with Hansi Flick’s first‑team resources now also a key reference point for scrambling cover at centre‑back.

For Pacifico, the focus will shift to a disciplined recovery, with the club committing to full medical and support assistance until he is fit to return.

The 12-month absence is a familiar narrative for young players, but if the rehabilitation goes smoothly, Pacifico could still resurface as a significant figure for the Filial and, in the right circumstances, even a long‑term asset for the senior squad in the future.