Barcelona Midfielder Marc Bernal Withdrawn From Spain U21 Due To Injury Concerns

Marc Bernal, a young Barcelona midfielder recovering from a serious knee injury that sidelined him for nearly a year, was initially called up to Spain's U-21 national team despite having only played limited minutes since his return. Barcelona's manager Hansi Flick and the club expressed strong concerns about the call-up, emphasizing that Bernal is not yet physically ready to participate extensively and needs careful management to avoid risking his recovery. Following these concerns and further medical evaluations, the Spanish Football Federation withdrew Bernal from the squad, citing physical discomfort, although Barcelona sources denied this and stressed the player's ongoing recovery plan. The decision was ultimately a consensus among the player, the club, and the federation, recognizing the call-up was premature. Fer López was named as Bernal's replacement for the upcoming international fixtures. Bernal remains focused on regaining full fitness, with hopes of contributing significantly to Spain's national team in the future.