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Barcelona: An in-depth look at the Catalans’ injury crisis

By Atharva Khadilkar

BARCELONA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 2: (L-R) Samuel Umtiti of FC Barcelona, Luis Suarez of FC Barcelona celebrates 2-1 during the La Liga Santander match between FC Barcelona v SD Huesca at the Camp Nou on September 2, 2018 in Barcelona Spain (Photo by Jeroen Meuwsen/Soccrates/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 2: (L-R) Samuel Umtiti of FC Barcelona, Luis Suarez of FC Barcelona celebrates 2-1 during the La Liga Santander match between FC Barcelona v SD Huesca at the Camp Nou on September 2, 2018 in Barcelona Spain (Photo by Jeroen Meuwsen/Soccrates/Getty Images) /
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Barcelona are missing key players in Luis Suarez, Samuel Umtiti and Rafinha Alcantara. Arthur Melo and Jasper Cillessen have also been missing.

Barcelona is clearly not the team which is most affected by injuries this season, but the Spanish giants have certainly had their share of worrying moments with key players gone. While speaking to MARCA, the club’s doctor Pedro Luis Ripoll has now talked about the injuries caused to players and what effect it may have.

So here we have a look at the issues involving Luis Suarez, Samuel Umtiti and Rafinha.

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Luis Suarez

Luis Suarez had already been reporting about problems in his right knee since the last few months and those were revealed by a doctor from his home country- Uruguay.

Upon consultation with those at Barcelona, Luis Suarez decided to undergo biological treatments for his stem cells. Having already undergone two in the last four months of the campaign, his second attempt to get rid of the issue has failed and he has now needed to undergo surgery.

The Uruguay international is expected to get back to fitness soon, but it is unclear whether he will face Espanyol over the coming weekend.

Samuel Umtiti

Samuel Umtiti has been marred with injuries since 2016 and has constantly faced issues in the articulate cartilage of his left knee. Barcelona and the players have tried to say no to the operation centre and have resorted to biological treatments.

However, the France international has been sent to Qatar to undergo further treatment and so it is unclear if he will come back and have surgery or not. He has been ruled out for an indefinite period of time, but a surgery would mean that the Catalans will see him on the treatment for four months meaning that he will probably miss the whole season.

Rafinha

Rafinha’s case at Barcelona is the most grave of all of their players. The midfielder has ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee when playing against Atletico Madrid and faces a lengthy spell of at least six to eight months on the side line.

He earlier suffered the same injury to his right knee back in 2015 and was ruled out until April or May 2016. Barcelona will be patient and safe with him and his rehab procedures.

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Who should Barcelona sign as cover for Rafinha and Samuel Umtiti? Also, should they realistically start scouting for Luis Suarez’s replacements now?

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