Barcelona is going through a difficult time as they manage important ailments and plan ahead for the future at the same time. According to ESPN’s Moises Llorens, talented teenage midfielder Marc Bernal is expected to sign a new deal with the team this week, which is a great development. Under new head coach Hansi Flick, the 17-year-old has made an incredible impact this season, starting all three of Barcelona’s opening La Liga games. Regrettably, Bernal’s development has been hindered by a serious setback—he will be out for a long time due to an ACL injury he sustained during a 2-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano. Nevertheless, despite Premier League interest, Barcelona is dedicated to Bernal’s long-term potential and will shortly announce his contract renewal.
More urgently, there has been a significant injury setback for Barcelona’s first-choice goalie, Marc-André ter Stegen. Visibly distraught, Ter Stegen was forced to leave the pitch on a stretcher during Sunday’s La Liga encounter against Villarreal. Further diagnostic testing revealed that he had completely ruptured the patella tendon in his right knee, requiring surgery and probably keeping him out of action for the rest of the season.
Barcelona’s management is faced with a difficult decision as they think about adding players to their roster through the free agent market. Many experienced goalkeepers, including Keylor Navas, Loris Karius, Tomas Vaclik, Sergio Rico, Edgar Badía, Jordi Masip, Kristoffer Klaesson, and Jiri Pavlenka, are currently available, according to Diario AS. Remarkably, former goalie Claudio Bravo has stated that he might be open to rejoining the team.
While they continue to look for a suitable Ter Stegen replacement, Barcelona is demonstrating its commitment to developing young talent by extending Bernal’s contract. The club’s next few days will be crucial as they try to bolster their roster and finish the current campaign.
