Barcelona’s start to the season has been nothing short of emphatic under Hansi Flick.
Raphinha has been reinvented as a central striker following Robert Lewandowski’s summer exit, scoring 14 goals in just eight matches and keeping the club perfect across all competitions so far.
Lamine Yamal has been equally influential alongside him, breaking Vinicius Junior’s La Liga assist record over the weekend at just 19 years old.
That form has left Barcelona sitting top of the table with 21 points from seven games, a squad depth so strong that several established names have found themselves squeezed out of Flick’s plans entirely.
One of those, having fallen behind Rodri in the pecking order, left the club altogether before the transfer window closed.
Marc Casado’s exit from Barcelona was one of the more drawn-out sagas of the entire summer, with reports throughout August linking him to Besiktas, Bayer Leverkusen, Real Betis and even Saudi Arabian clubs before he settled on a route that kept him in Spain.
Casado eventually joined newly promoted Deportivo on loan on the final day of the window, agreeing a deal that runs until June 2027 and includes a €30million buy option, determined to relaunch his career as a regular starter in La Liga.
He had started to look settled at his new club too, making his third appearance for Deportivo on Sunday having previously been used as an impact substitute against Sevilla during a week of squad rotation.
That early promise has now suffered a cruel setback, with Casado undergoing surgery after suffering a fractured right collarbone during Deportivo’s match against Real Betis.
The midfielder fell awkwardly on his shoulder following a collision with Marc Roca, immediately aware something was seriously wrong as he was forced off the pitch in visible pain.
Deportivo confirmed those fears on Monday with an official medical update on their website, “Marc Casado underwent surgery at the HM Modelo Hospital in A Coruna, performed by traumatologist Rafael Arriaza, due to a fracture of his right collarbone.”
The club stopped short of putting a firm timeframe on his return, stating only that his progress would determine when he’s back in contention.
Injuries of this nature typically require between eight and 12 weeks of recovery, which would likely rule Casado out until sometime in January, potentially keeping him sidelined right through the Christmas period.
The timing at least offers a small mercy, with La Liga paused for the international break, meaning Deportivo won’t be without their new midfielder for a competitive fixture until they return to action against Real Sociedad on 10 October.
For Marc Casado personally, the blow is a particularly harsh one, having chosen Deportivo specifically over more lucrative offers to find the regular first-team football that had eluded him at Camp Nou, and Barcelona will be watching his recovery closely given their sell-on and buy-back arrangements tied to any future move.
Want to get the latest Barcelona news direct to your phone? Join our WhatsApp community by clicking here.
