Barcelona expect Lamine Yamal to return to first team training in 2025, reports have confirmed.
Yamal suffered his second ankle injury of the season in mid-December and was forced to miss the 2-1 defeat at Atletico Madrid before La Liga’s winter break gave him a few extra weeks to recover.
The teenage winger missed Barcelonalast practice in 2024 on Tuesday, but SPORT he said he should return on Wednesday when Hansi Flick’s side kick off 2025.
It is believed he could be fit enough to face Barbastro in the Copa del Rey on January 4, but given Barcelona’s status as overwhelming favorites for that clash, Yamal is expected to be given the night off to further aid his recovery.
Instead, the Supercopa de Espana semi-final against Athletic Club on January 8 in Saudi Arabia is seen as the likely return date for Yamal.
If Barcelona Athletic win, they would secure a place in the final against Real Madrid or Mallorca, which will be played four days later on January 12.
Flick are under pressure as La Liga prepares to return in 2025. A run of just one win in their last seven games has seen them drop from first to third in the league table, and they have also played one game more than Madrid and Atletico ahead of them .
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