Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado is set to undergo tests for a knee injury that could potentially sideline him for the rest of the season, according to reports. The 21-year-old, who made his 20th La Liga start in Barcelona’s thrilling 4-2 comeback win over Atletico Madrid on Sunday, was forced off in the second half after sustaining the injury early in the match.
Initial assessments by SPORT suggest Casado has suffered a torn lateral collateral ligament, which may keep him out for over two months. Barcelona’s La Liga campaign concludes on May 25 against Athletic Club, just over two months after the Atletico game, meaning Casado’s season could be over, even if he is medically cleared to return to training before the final fixtures.
Further scans are scheduled for Monday to determine the full extent of the injury, with the severity of the damage dictating his exact return date. As a result of the injury, Casado has withdrawn from the Spain national team squad, with Bayer Leverkusen’s Aleix Garcia called up as his replacement.
Casado isn’t the only Barcelona player to withdraw from international duty, as centre-back Inigo Martinez has also left the squad. Martinez is believed to have picked up a knock against Atletico, but there are no immediate concerns of a serious injury.
Casado’s absence could provide an opportunity for Gavi to see more playing time. Although the young midfielder has been linked with a move away from Barcelona this summer, he has consistently expressed his desire to stay at the club and fight for a place in Hansi Flick’s starting lineup.
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