OFFICIAL: Marc Bernal receives medical clearance for Barça-Valencia

FC Barcelona issued this Saturday the official medical clearance of Marc Bernal. The midfielder had overcome his ailments in his left knee for several weeks, but the club preferred to respect the expected time off for his injury (1 year). Therefore, the 18-year-old player spent a total of 382 days in the Barça infirmary.

After the ordeal that the recovery of the cruciate ligament and meniscus entailed, the youth player is fully recovered and ready to return to action. In this way, he will return to the Barça bench this Sunday against Valencia (9:00 PM CEST), although Hansi Flick will wait a few more days to give him his first minutes in the 2025/26 season.

Flick confirms Marc Bernal's first call-up after a year out

"Bernal will be on the bench. The next step is for him to be available. I want to see him on the pitch. Tomorrow will be exciting for him and we have to take care of him," Flick explained at the press conference prior to matchday 4 of La Liga.

In that sense, the coach will include the player from Berga in his official squad for the first time since the fateful August 27, 2024, when the then youth player destroyed his left knee in the second half of the match against Rayo in Vallecas (1-2).

Marc suffered a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee and an associated injury to the external meniscus that required a year of recovery time. The midfielder did the pre-season with the team, but did not play any match throughout the summer.

Therefore, the idea of the coaching staff is that the now '22' culé will add residual minutes in the coming weeks, while recovering the competitive rhythm. The objective, in addition, is to reduce the risk margin of a relapse, even more so when Gavi, who also suffered a similar injury to his right knee, has a relapse in the area.

Marc Bernal, a luxury alternative for the Barça midfield

Marc Bernal training with Barça at the Ciutat Esportiva

With the return of Marc Bernal and the uncertainty about Gavi's physical evolution, Hansi Flick adds a luxury reinforcement for a always complex stretch of the season. Barcelona will play a total of seven matches in 21 days (three weeks), two of them in the Champions League against Newcastle and Paris Saint-Germain.

The team debuts in Europe next Thursday the 18th against the 'magpies' and, afterwards, receives Getafe (Sunday 21) for La Liga. The week continues with the visit to Oviedo (Thursday 25) and the match at home against Real Sociedad (Sunday 27). Three days later it is time to receive PSG (October 1) and then we will have to visit Sevilla (October 5), just before a new international break.

In that sense, Bernal's presence allows Flick to have another piece for his rotation plan in midfield. Frenkie de Jong remains the first option for the defensive pivot position, while Marc Casadó and Eric García are also ready to lend a hand as a replacement for the Dutchman.

The 18-year-old started the 24/25 season as a starter alongside Pedri. After his injury, Casadó took over the position until De Jong recovered his best version at the beginning of 2025. As he usually does in each demarcation, the coach prioritizes current form and daily performance for the management of minutes and roles in the squad. Therefore, the competition is maximum to get a place in the starting lineup.