FC Barcelona Confirms Season-Ending Injury To First Team Star

FC Barcelona confirmed what could be a season-ending injury to a breakout first team star in 2024/2025 via its official website.

“Tests carried out on Wednesday have shown that the player Marc Bernal has a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and an associated injury to the lateral meniscus,” a statement began.

“In the coming days he will undergo a surgical procedure and when completed an update will be provided,” it added, noting how Bernal started a 2-1 comeback win over Rayo Vallecano but in stoppage time “was involved in a passage of play that led to him ending the game injured”.

Barca called the development “a setback for the young midfielder, who had started all three league games for the Blaugrana so far his season”.

As is common, the club hasn’t specified a timeframe for recovery and given fans an idea of when they might see Bernal in action again.

An ACL rupture is one of the most serious knocks a footballer can suffer, however, and in Bernal’s case has been dubbed season-ending by many including AS correspondent Javi Miguel.

On X, as news of the injury reported by SPORT‘s Toni Juanmarti spread, Miguel tweeted that there was “absolute pessimism” with Bernal’s predicament and that if the suspected ACL injury was confirmed, the youngster could say “adios to the rest of the season”.

His manager Hansi Flick certainly cut a sombre figure at full time in Vallecas on Tuesday night, after his men once more came back from behind to beat Rayo.

Rather than be thrilled by becoming the first Barca boss to notch three opening victories in a season since Ernesto Valverde in the title-winning campaign of 2018/2019, the German told DAZN Espana that it was a “sad” triumph because of Bernal’s injury.

“It’s not good and the dressing room is very affected. He had played a great game and his situation hurts us a lot,” Flick added.

Flick was seen comforting Bernal at full time, ahead of the youngster being filmed leaving the ground on crutches.

He has certainly been the 17-year-old’s biggest backer in the professional ranks until now, first taking him on a preseason tour of the United States and then giving Bernal three straight starts as a pivot in the ongoing 2024/2025 La Liga season.

Hopefully Bernal can return before the end of the term, but similar injuries suffered by the likes of Gavi point to him being out for anything up to a year.

Gavi ruptured his ACL while on international duty with Spain last November, and still hasn’t stepped onto the pitch in a competitive capacity again despite often training in recent times.

Flick will look in-house to cover Bernal’s absence according to SPORT, which expects him to field Marc Casado or Pau Prim as a replacement in a 4-2-3-1 which until now has enjoyed great success.