Barcelona midfielder Marc Bernal has undergone surgery after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and is expected to be out for 12 months.
The 17-year-old sustained the injury second-half stoppage time during Barcelona’s win over Rayo Vallecano in August.
He left the pitch in tears and was helped off by members of the club’s backroom staff. He later left the stadium on crutches with his left knee fully bandaged.
Subsequent scans showed that the teenager had ruptured the ACL in his left knee and also sustained a meniscus injury.
A statement from the club read: “The player Marc Bernal has undergone a successful surgical procedure on the injury to the anterior cruciate ligament and lateral meniscus in his left knee carried out by Dr. Joan Carles Monllau under the supervision of the club’s medical services at Barcelona Hospital.
“Recovery time is expected to be 12 months.”
After an impressive pre-season, Bernal had started to establish himself as a first-team regular for new head coach Hansi Flick.
The defensive midfielder made his La Liga debut on the opening day of the season, impressing in the 2-1 victory against Valencia and went on to start all three of his team’s league matches prior to his injury.
Bernal is a La Masia graduate and progressed through Barcelona’s academy alongside Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi.
Bernal’s Barcelona team-mate and fellow midfielder Fermin Lopez is set to miss three weeks with a hamstring injury.
The 21-year-old sustained the injury while on international duty with Spain’s Under-21 squad and subsequently returned to Barcelona to undergo assessment and begin his recovery period.
Barcelona are next in action against Girona in La Liga on September 15.
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