FC Barcelona has confirmed an injury blow for Wednesday’s match against Osauna.
FC Barcelona has confirmed an injury suffered by one of its first team players which is a setback for Wednesday’s match against Osasuna and possibly beyond.
“In training on Tuesday morning, the first team player Joao Felix sprained a ligament in his right ankle. He is unavailable for selection and his recovery will dictate his return,” read a statement published on X, formerly known as Twitter.
As is standard practice, Barca didn’t give a specific timeframe for how long Felix will be out of action.
The development comes at a bad time for the Catalans and their head coach Xavi Hernandez, who will lead his side for the first time since announcing a June 30 resignation in tomorrow’s fixture at the Montjuic Stadium.
It also arrives after Xavi lost right winger Raphinha thanks to a knock to his “biceps femoris muscle in his left thigh” against the same opposition, during a Spanish Super Cup semi-final the Blaugrana won 2-0 in Riyadh earlier this month.
Lamine Yamal has stepped up in the Brazilian’s absence with goals in that Saudi Arabia meeting and a strike reminiscent of Lionel Messi in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals loss to Athletic Club a week ago.
Felix has been in and out of the first XI amid hot and cold form. He was benched against Real Betis, but then netted a wonderful shot with the outside of his foot to make it 3-2 in the eventual 4-2 win, as the Andalusians suffered their first home defeat of the season.
In the 5-3 loss to Villarreal on Saturday that triggered Xavi revealing he had decided to quit, Felix didn’t even make it to the hour mark before being hooked in favor of Ferran Torres.
Ferran is now set to start against Osasuna to the left of striker Robert Lewandowski, as Lamine occupies the opposite channel.
Vitor Roque could be a candidate for Felix’s vacant position as well, but it is felt that Xavi does not want to rush the Brazilian’s progress.
According to SPORT, Xavi sees potential in the 18-year-old but has asked for the January signing from Athletic Paranaense to be “protected” by the club.
