Injured Barcelona duo set to return after the international break

There has not been much to complain about Barcelona’s start to the 2024-25 season. The team’s long list of injured players, however, threatens to compromise the longevity of their success.

Gavi, Ronald Araujo, Marc Bernal and Andreas Christensen are out with long-term injuries and none of them will be available this year.

The Catalans, thus, require the other injured players to step up their recovery and return at the earliest, for their absence significantly limits the manager’s options on the bench.

Two key stars to return

As revealed by MARCA in a recent update, Hansi Flick expects Ansu Fati and Frenkie de Jong to both be available after the international break.

Both players have made good progress in terms of their recovery and are now nearing the final stage of the process.

However, no risk will be taken around their return for the manager prioritises their 100% fitness.

Fati, who suffered an injury to the sole of his right foot, has been out for over a month and is undergoing conservative therapy.

He is still working individually but has now begun training on the grass with the ball as of earlier today. If everything goes to plan, the manager hopes to have him in group training in just under two weeks.

De Jong’s case, meanwhile, is more unclear. The player has been out for over four months now and there is still a cloud of doubt over the progress of his recovery.

In fact, there was news of the Dutchman possibly undergo surgery if his ankle did not improve soon.

Now, however, it appears that the player is making strong inroads towards complete recovery and it remains to be seen if he is declared fit after the international break.

Losing another midfielder to surgery, after all, is the last thing Barcelona and Flick need at the moment.