Barcelona midfielder recovering from torn ACL reveals when he will be able to return to the pitch | OneFootball

There is no doubt that FC Barcelona have had a very successful 2024-25 season, and their achievements of winning the Spanish Super Cup, Copa del Rey, and La Liga seem even more impressive when considering the difficult circumstances in which the team has had to compete.

One of the major difficulties that Hansi Flick faced this season was the injuries to some of his important players, as Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde, Alejandro Balde, Marc Casado, Andreas Christensen, Ronald Araujo, etc. all spent a significant time on the sidelines.

Marc Bernal nearing his return to fitness

But this season was particularly hard for the young midfielder Marc Bernal, who was expected to make his breakthrough with the first team this season, but was unfortunate to suffer an ACL tear with an associated meniscus injury that kept him out of action for the entirety of the season.

In the last few weeks, there have been reports on how the youngster is reaching his recovery milestones and is close to making his return to the pitch.

In this regard, he himself provided an update on his recovery and when he will be able to return to the pitch. As Mundo Deportivo has reported, Bernal talked to the media during Barcelona’s league-winning celebrations at the Olympic Stadium Montjuic and commented on his expected return date:

“I think I’ll be ready to play around the month of August.”

Barcelona midfielder Marc Bernal. [Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images]

Feelings on playing for the first team

The midfielder was able to play three games for the first team this season, but then suffered the injury that kept him out for the rest of the season. However, even these three games were special for him, as he expressed how this was a dream come true for him:

“Everything this team has done is incredible. When I started the first two games as a starter, neither my family nor I could believe it.”

Hopefully, Marc Bernal will be able to return to full fitness in the upcoming preseason and the proper season. However, he will face stiff competition for a place in the starting eleven, as Frenkie de Jong, Marc Casado, and Eric Garcia will all be looking for minutes as the midfield pivot.