Barcelona fully committed to the success of teenage gem returning from injury | OneFootball

27 August 2024 was a fateful day for Marc Bernal. The La Masia gem, playing his third official game for Barcelona, tore the anterior cruciate ligament and the external meniscus in his left knee.

One year later, his recovery is proving to be a success, leaving great satisfaction within the Barcelona staff.

Now, SPORT reports that Barcelona are fully committed to the recovery and reintegration of the teenage wonderkid whom they consider a key cog in the short and long term.

Inching closer to a return

The work carried out with the club’s physiotherapists and rehabilitation staff has been a success and has left a lot of satisfaction.

In fact, Bernal has already received medical clearance, although he has not yet returned to competition purely as a precaution.

The youngster has not only recovered from the injury but has also gained strength, and he is expected to return as a more powerful player in the defensive midfield position.

Bernal turned 18 in May and is still in the physical development stage. During his recovery, he has grown around four centimetres tall and worked on his muscle mass, which will make him an even stronger footballer.

His role in front of the defence requires a robust body in order to stop opponents’ actions and, above all, to win duels in midfield.

A key position

Bernal has recovered from his ACL injury. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

In Flick’s Barcelona, the pivot also carries significant responsibility in supporting the central defenders, both in the build-up of play and in holding the defensive line for offsides. Bernal meets both requirements.

The player has already agreed a contract renewal with Barcelona, which will be announced shortly, including a release clause of €1 billion.

Bernal represents a strong bet from the club due to the progression he has shown and the quality he has already displayed.

After the international break, he could be included in a squad list, potentially for the match against Valencia on 14 September, but the process will be taken step by step.

His integration into the team will be similar to that of Gavi, who was also carefully managed after suffering an equally serious injury.

Barcelona have many attack-minded midfielders, and Bernal offers a combination of both playmaking ability and defensive strength.

For all these reasons, the club has been fully committed to his recovery, ensuring him a very strong renewal, and sees him as a cornerstone for both the present and future of Barcelona.