Barcelona midfield prodigy in the final stretch of his recovery; expected to undergo an intense summer | OneFootball

Last summer, Marc Bernal was destined to undergo a breakthrough season at Barcelona, having already made quite the impression in the early parts of the campaign.

However, his progress was suddenly halted by a long-term injury which ruled him out for the entire season.

But after nine months trying to recover from the injury, the midfielder finally appears to be making some progress towards his eventual return to the field.

In the final stretch of recovery

According to MARCA, Bernal is in the final stage of his recovery, having recently posted a picture that should encourage Barcelona fans.

In the picture, the youngster has seen training with the ball individually in training, which is indeed a positive sign.

Though no specific date has been set for his return to team training, Bernal’s progress suggests he could rejoin the squad by the start of the 2025–26 season.

Marc Bernal’s injury earlier in the season hampered his progress (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

The 18-year-old started the first three LaLiga matches this season and was expected to play a major role before suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament and damage to his external meniscus in stoppage time against Rayo Vallecano.

The serious knee injury required surgery and kicked off a long, demanding recovery process.

While his current progress is promising, Bernal knows that a full return to match fitness won’t come easily.

The midfielder is expected to undergo an intense summer training programme to ensure he is fully ready for the start of the new season.

Barça see Bernal as a key piece for the future, which is perhaps why the club are keen on handing him a contract extension in the near future – a sign of trust from the club to the player.