Barcelona handed injury boost as star midfielder likely to be available for La Liga opener against Valencia - Reports

Barcelona midfielder Pedri is reportedly ready to feature in the La Liga opener at Valencia on Saturday (August 17). The 21-year-old had sustained an injury in the 2-1 Euro 2024 quarter-final win over hosts Germany in Spain's triumphant campaign.

Out of action since then, Pedri has seemingly made a quicker-than-expected recovery from a grade 2 sprain in his left knee sustained following a collision with the now-retired Toni Kroos.

Pedri was initially expected to be out for eight weeks - as per Football Espana - but as per AS (via Barca Universal), he returned to training on Wednesday (August 14) and could be available for the trip to the Mestalla.

However, the injury update regarding other injured players like Ansu Fati and midfielder Frenkie de Jong is not so promising, with the duo all set to miss the first game of the season.

Moreover, new boss Hansi Flick has also had to deal with the potential non-availability of players like Inigo Martinez, Vitor Roque, Pau Victor and Dani Olmo, who are yet to be registered with La Liga.

The former Bayern Munich boss has arrived at the Camp Nou helm this summer, replacing club legend Xavier Hernandez, who left at the end of the 2023-24 campaign.

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Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong set to be out till the September international break

Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong

Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has been out of action since the El Clasico with Real Madrid in April this year. The Dutchman also missed UEFA Euro 2024, where the Oranje lost 2-1 to England in the semi-final.

Ahead of the start of the 2024-25 season, De Jong is all set to miss the first few weeks of the new campaign. As per AS, he apparently arrived from vacation 'out of shape' and nursing a 'swollen ankle'.

Following a grade 2 sprain of his right ankle, he has been out of action for nearly four months. The aforementioned report says that De Jong is not expected to be available before the September international break.

Moreover, the player's refusal to take a pay-cut hasn't quite enthused the club hierarchy, considering Barca's well-documented financial woes, leaving multiple players yet to be registered with La Liga.

Commanding the highest salary - €35 million gross - in the side, De Jong has missed multiple games for Barca due to injury. The 27-year-old has registered 17 goals and 21 assists in 213 games across competitions since arriving in the summer of 2019.