Injured Barcelona wonderkid set to take a major step forward in his recovery – report | OneFootball

Only three games into his senior career, FC Barcelona wonderkid Marc Bernal was dealt a devastating blow as he suffered an ACL injury.

The situation was further complicated by damage to the meniscus, which meant that the teenage prodigy was ruled out of the rest of the season in August itself.

Much like with Gavi, it was expected that Bernal could take a year to fully recover and return to action.

However, as reported last month, the 17-year-old La Masia prodigy’s recovery is progressing a lot better than expected.

Another big step

Now, SPORT’s Toni Juanmarti reports that Marc Bernal is set to take another important step forward in his recovery – he is expected to start training on the pitch at the Ciutat Esportiva in the coming days, six months after undergoing surgery.

Marc Bernal ruptured his ACL in August 2024. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Bernal has spent months working tirelessly in the gym at the club’s training facilities, focusing on strengthening his upper body while gradually increasing the workload on his lower body. Now, he is ready for the next stage of his recovery.

The plan is for Bernal to begin light on-field training imminently. His initial sessions will involve solo drills, including light jogging and gentle changes of direction.

While this will be a cautious reintroduction, simply returning to the pitch will be a significant morale boost for the 17-year-old.

The young midfield gem continues to exceed expectations as far as his recovery is concerned, but the Catalans are proceeding with caution to avoid any setbacks.

However, things are progressing so well that he might return to action quicker than many other players who have undergone surgery for ACL and external meniscus injuries.

Indeed, there is now a possibility that he could return in under 11 months, though it remains too early to confirm.