Overview
- Diario AS reports the midfielder is ahead of schedule from a hamstring tear sustained in El Clásico, with limited minutes on Nov. 22 against Athletic Club under consideration.
- Football España indicates the Athletic fixture may come too soon for him, with the Champions League trip to Chelsea on Nov. 25 viewed as the more realistic first appearance.
- Medical clearance remains the decisive step, with Barcelona’s staff prioritising a phased return to avoid relapse after previous setbacks.
- Initial estimates had his comeback pencilled in for December, with current expectations pointing to full fitness by early December around the Atlético Madrid match.
- Squad health is trending positive as Raphinha and Joan García are expected to be ready for Athletic, Lamine Yamal follows a tailored plan to resume training next week, and only Gavi and Marc-André ter Stegen are projected to remain out into late November.