Barcelona is set to face Athletic Club on Saturday, marking their return to the Spotify Camp Nou for the first time in nearly 30 months. Coach Hansi Flick hopes to have Joan Garcia, Marc Casado, and Raphinha available after their injuries, but a new concern has emerged.
Marcus Rashford has been performing exceptionally well for Barcelona since securing a spot in the starting XI and was expected to play against Athletic. However, uncertainty surrounds his availability after missing training on Thursday, as reported by Sport.
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Rashford, who participated in both of England’s international matches during the recent break, was absent from the Barcelona training session completely. The reasons for his absence remain unclear, though reports suggest that any injury is not serious, leaving the door open for him to play against Athletic.
With Raphinha returning from consecutive hamstring injuries, Barcelona aims to reintegrate him carefully. Flick had not planned to start Raphinha this weekend, but he may be compelled to if Rashford is unable to play. Notably, there are rumors of Rashford potentially signing a permanent deal with Barcelona next summer.
Anticipation for Friday’s Training
As the situation with Rashford develops, his participation in Friday’s training will be telling. If he returns to the field, it’s a strong indication he will feature at the Spotify Camp Nou. Barcelona will wish for him to start on the left wing, a position he now may have to compete for with Raphinha’s impending return.
For now, all eyes will be on Rashford, with further updates expected within the next 24 hours.