Barcelona lay out careful roadmap for injured captain’s return, Flick in constant contact

Soon after the international break, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick will be able to call upon three of his injured players as Gavi, Fermin Lopez, and Dani Olmo are all set to make a comeback.

On top of that, new signing Wojciech Szczesny is also expected to be ready to make his debut once the October international window comes to an end.

Once Flick recovers the aforementioned quartet, the focus will shift to the recovery of captain and key defender Ronald Araujo, reports SPORT.

Plans laid out for Araujo’s return

Araujo has been sidelined since July when he suffered a hamstring injury during a Copa America match between Uruguay and Brazil.

Following the injury, Araujo underwent surgery in Finland with Dr. Lasse Lempainen. Though no specific recovery timeline was announced, initial estimates suggested a December return.

The defender initially returned to Uruguay to work with a trusted physiotherapist under the supervision of Barça’s medical team, before returning to Ciutat Esportiva in September to continue his rehabilitation and has been making good progress.

Sources close to the club suggest that if his recovery continues at its current pace, Araujo could potentially return to action by late November, several weeks ahead of schedule.

Barcelona are planning a careful reintegration process through December, allowing Araujo to gradually regain match fitness before returning to 100% in January after the winter break.

It would come at a crucial time for Barcelona, with the team facing a demanding schedule that includes La Liga matches, the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia, critical Champions League fixtures, and Copa del Rey ties.

Flick in regular contact

As per the report, Flick has been in contact with Araujo and is keeping a close eye on his progress.

In fact, the German coach has been full of praise for the Uruguayan international, praising his character and influence in the dressing room and how much he will give the team with his excellent physicality.

The coach knows the importance of Araujo in the team, but in no case does he intend to force the Uruguayan, although he could have good news after the next national team break in November.