Official: Barcelona midfield starlet undergoes surgery after injury relapse

Barcelona midfield prospect Aleix Garrido has successfully undergone surgery after suffering an injury relapse towards the back end of the last season, the club have confirmed.

“Barça Atlètic midfielder Aleix Garrido has successfully undergone an operation in a relapse of the fracture suffered to the fifth metatarsal of his left foot. He is currently out of action until he completes a full recovery,” the statement from the club read.

“The surgery was performed at Hospital de Barcelona by Dr Dalmau, under the supervision of the club medical services.”

Garrido, 20, was set to be a part of the first-team pre-season under Hansi Flick this summer and would have gotten a chance to impress given the absence of players like Pedri, Gavi, and Fermin Lopez.

The La Masia midfielder suffered a metatarsal fracture in February earlier this year which meant he missed three months of action.

Garrido returned to action in time for Barça Atletic’s promotion playoff semifinals and played in both legs against Ibiza, but suffered a relapse, leading to him missing the finals vs Cordoba.

There were expectations that the 20-year-old could join pre-season in the coming days under Flick, but the relapse was serious enough for the midfielder to undergo surgery.

It remains to be seen how long this puts the young midfield talent on the sidelines in what comes as a fresh setback for the player as well as Flick, who hoped to get a look at him.