Barcelona’s young talent will be sidelined until the 2025 pre-season due to upcoming knee surgery. In response to this setback, the club is considering former PSG midfielder Adrien Rabiot as a potential ‘wildcard’ signing to bolster their midfield.
Barcelona prodigy to return in 2025 pre-season; surgery next week
After a string of outstanding performances early in the season, Marc Bernal was seen as the perfect long-term successor to Sergio Busquets at Barcelona.
In the first few games, the 17-year-old demonstrated remarkable maturity and game control, earning a regular spot in Hansi Flick’s starting lineup.
In Barcelona’s latest victory over Rayo Vallecano, Bernal’s chances of securing a first-team spot were dashed when he suffered a serious ACL injury.
Barcelona has confirmed that Bernal’s injury will sideline him for the rest of the season.
When will Bernal be back on the field?
A recent SPORT report provides an update on Bernal’s recovery and includes a tentative return date for the young midfielder.
According to the report, Bernal might return to the field during the pre-season of the 2025/26 season, which means he is expected to be back by next summer.
While not unexpected due to the severity of his injury, this news is a setback for FC Barcelona, which is already short on midfield options.
Achraf Ben Ayad has confirmed that Bernal will have knee surgery in Barcelona next week.
Frenkie de Jong and Gavi are both dealing with injuries. At the same time, the club sold Ilkay Gundogan, Oriol Romeu, and Sergi Roberto during the summer.
Barcelona’s support for Bernal
In addition to a possible return date, the report reveals that Barcelona intends to support Bernal by offering him a contract renewal.
Bernal’s current contract at Camp Nou expires in 2026. However, Barcelona aims to extend it to 2029 to better secure his future with the club.
The Catalans aim to fast-track discussions about Bernal’s contract renewal in the coming weeks. However, it’s still being determined if the club will have the financial means to finalize any potential agreement.
Barcelona considers former PSG midfielder as a potential ‘wildcard’ signing
In the final hours of the transfer window, Barça are striving to capitalize on their current situation to bolster key positions and keep their hopes alive.
The defensive midfield role has become a priority due to Marc Bernal’s ACL injury, which will keep him out for the rest of the season.
With Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, and Andreas Christensen also sidelined, manager Hansi Flick currently has very few options for the position.
As a result, Barça is aiming to acquire a player to strengthen the pivot position. Although the chances of securing someone before the window closes are slim, they remain optimistic about completing a deal in the weeks following the market’s closure.
Adrien Rabiot as a free agent is considered a potential ‘wildcard’ option
According to Toni Juanmarti of SPORT, former Juventus and PSG midfielder Adrien Rabiot has emerged as a ‘wildcard’ option for Barcelona due to his status as a free agent.
The 29-year-old is available as a free agent after his contract with Juventus expires on June 30. He has not yet signed with any club.
Suppose Barcelona can adhere to the 1:1 Financial Fair Play rule. In that case, they might pursue this move within the next two or three weeks, assuming the French international has yet to commit to another club by then.
For Barça to receive La Liga’s approval for the operation, the key requirement would be finalizing a significant financial agreement that boosts the club’s revenue, such as the long-pending Nike deal.
This is sufficient to balance the accounts and give Deco more flexibility.
Right now, Rabiot isn’t a top priority, but he’s on Barcelona’s radar because he’s an experienced player with proven skills in his role.
The summer transfer window for the 2024/25 season will close on Friday, August 30, for La Liga and other major European leagues. However, Rabiot’s situation could allow for a signing even after that date.
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