Barcelona Star Pulls Out of International Squad Amid Growing Injury Crisis

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has officially announced that Marc Bernal has pulled out of international duty citing physical discomfort.

The Barcelona central midfielder, who recently made his comeback from an ACL injury sustained 13 months prior, had initially been selected for Spain's U-21 national team during the October international window.

Hansi Flick publicly criticized this call-up, declaring that Bernal "is not prepared for extensive playing time" following his recovery from "a severe injury that sidelined him for over a year." In fact, Bernal has accumulated merely 21 minutes of action across all competitions since August 2024.

Shortly after Flick's pointed remarks, the RFEF revealed that Wolves midfielder Fer López would take Bernal's place in David Gordo's roster for upcoming fixtures against Norway and Finland.

"The medical department of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, working alongside FC Barcelona's medical team, has examined the documentation provided Friday evening by the Catalan outfit, following the midday announcement of David Gordo's squad," stated the RFEF. "With the player's wellbeing as the top priority, the RFEF has decided to remove Marc Bernal from the selection."

Barcelona's Injury Crisis Deepens

The RFEF has verified that Bernal is experiencing "physical discomfort," contributing to Barcelona's expanding injury roster. Marc-André ter Stegen, Gavi, Fermín López, Joan García and Raphinha are all currently sidelined in the treatment room for the Blaugrana.

Additionally, Lamine Yamal faces another period out of action after re-injuring his groin problem during Barcelona's 2–1 loss to Paris Saint-Germain. The 18-year-old sensation will be absent for this weekend's journey to Seville and Spain's international fixtures; Flick also questions Yamal's availability for the season's opening El Clásico encounter.

However, there was positive news for the reigning Spanish champions when Flick announced his squad for Barcelona's Sunday showdown with Sevilla; Bernal made the trip and remains an option for selection.

The Catalan giants will aim to recover from their midweek Champions League setback to preserve their position at the summit of La Liga, despite their mounting injury woes.