Barcelona is preparing for their La Liga debut against RCD Mallorca on Saturday evening, but it is unlikely that Marc Bernal has with them. The 18-year-old Midifelder recovered from a front cruciate ligament injury last year, which he sustained at the start of last season.
Bernal has been training again for some time and completed the entire season with the first team. Despite any suggestion that he could be back in action in the Joan Gamper -Trophy, Bernal remained in the stands.
The Blaugrana currently has little need, with Marc Casado, Frenkie de Jong and Gavi all able to play his role in midfield. However, Bernal will only compete with them in September, say MD. They note that Bernal trains in the same intensity as his teammates, and his recovery is on schedule, but that his return to action will only be made in September and after the international break.
In mind, Barcelona's first home game of the season is against Valencia on September 14, when he could return to action.
The Blaugrana have established a different recovery standard for younger players who return from cruciate ligament or serious injuries of such. Although some senior players have returned in recent years after a little six or seven months, the Barcelona medical staff think that players who are still growing must have a slower and careful recovery. Likewise, Gavi returned just over 11 months after his return from his ACL injury.
Bernal led to widespread excitement in Barcelona at the beginning of last season, with Hansi Flick who started him in the first three games of the year before his injury. Bernal looked at midfield at home and many wondered if he had a future in the long term in the first team.