Barcelona have seen plenty of their academy graduates take different paths after breaking into the first team, but Marc Casado’s latest chapter has been interrupted by an injury just as he looked to establish himself elsewhere.
The midfielder spent years working his way through La Masia after joining Barcelona from CF Damm in 2016, eventually becoming captain of the club’s youth side and helping them win the league and Champions Cup in 2021/22.
Marc Casado then became an important figure for Barca Atletic, making 66 appearances across his first two seasons with the development side and starting 64 of those matches.
His versatility also stood out, with Casado capable of playing in central midfield as well as at right-back before earning his first-team opportunity.
That breakthrough came during the 2022/23 campaign when he made his Barcelona debut against Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League, before eventually becoming part of Hansi Flick’s first-team squad in 2024.
Now, Barcelona are playing an active role in helping Casado recover after the 23-year-old suffered a fractured right collarbone during Deportivo La Coruña’s match against Real Betis.
Casado has undergone surgery and returned to Barcelona, where he visited the Ciutat Esportiva alongside members of his family as he begins what is expected to be around three months of rehabilitation.
Rather than remaining away from the club while recovering, Casado is expected to use Barcelona’s medical facilities and work with the club’s medical staff as he continues his rehabilitation, as reported by SPORT.
His return to Barcelona is not linked to a change in his loan agreement, with Casado still contracted to Deportivo until the end of the 2026/27 season.
The timing is particularly frustrating for the midfielder after he left Barcelona on loan in search of exactly what he was struggling to find at Camp Nou, regular first-team football.
Before the move, Casado had established himself as a genuine first-team player, making 75 appearances for Barcelona and registering one goal and seven assists.
He also leaves behind an impressive trophy collection, having won two LaLiga titles, a Copa del Rey and two Spanish Super Cups during his time with the senior side.
His best opportunity came during the 2024/25 season, when he made 35 appearances across competitions and became a more regular part of Flick’s midfield options.
Barcelona rewarded his progress by extending his contract until June 2028 in 2024, underlining the club’s belief in a player who had spent almost his entire development within the Barça system.
For now, however, Casado’s focus is on getting back to full fitness rather than thinking about his next move.
Barcelona will continue to monitor his recovery while Deportivo wait for their loanee to return, with the midfielder now facing several months away from competitive football.
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