Barcelona handed major fitness boost ahead of El Clasico
A key member of the Catalans’ backline could return to the pitch sooner than expected
Spanish giants Barcelona have, on Sunday, finally been afforded some positive news on the personnel front.
The international break, to date, has of course proven something of a nightmare for all associated with the Blaugrana.
This comes with no fewer than four members of Xavi Hernandez’s first-team ranks – in the form of Jules Kounde, Frenkie de Jong, Memphis Depay and Ronald Araujo – having picked up injury concerns.
The latter in particular is expected to miss an extended stretch of action, with the powers that be at the Camp Nou understood to be taking into consideration whether or not to sanction an imminent surgical procedure.
In turn, speculation that another key member of the club’s backline – Kounde – could also be out long-term, arrived at the worst possible time.
As alluded to above, though, on Saturday, a fresh, and altogether more positive update on the Frenchman’s situation has been provided.
In turn, after it was previously insisted that the summer arrival in Catalunya had been ruled out of next month’s El Clasico showdown between Barca and Real Madrid, now, Kounde is expected to be fit and ready to feature.
🚨🚨✅| Confirmed: Jules Kounde’s injury is not as serious as initially seemed. He is expected to be 100% fit for El Clasico.@fansjavimiguel [🎖️]
— Managing Barça (@ManagingBarca) September 25, 2022
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