Ferran Torres returns to Barcelona with muscle discomfort!

Bad news for the culé side continues during this international break. If recently it was Dani Olmo who had to leave the camp due to physical discomfort, now it is Ferran Torres who returns early to the City of Barcelona due to a similar situation. This was communicated by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), which confirmed the withdrawal of the attacker for the match against Bulgaria, corresponding to the fourth qualifying match for the 2026 World Cup in Valladolid. "The forward of FC Barcelona, after completing the match against Georgia in Elche, reported muscle discomfort that was evaluated by the medical services of the RFEF, including complementary tests, diagnosing a muscle overload without associated anatomical injury," details the medical statement. The RFEF also added that "given the proximity of the match against Bulgaria, maintaining the policy of not taking risks and prioritizing the player´s health, his withdrawal is proceeding." After several recent episodes of Barça players suffering mishaps with the national team — such as the ‘Lamine Yamal case’ and later Dani Olmo — the Federation pointed out in the statement that "the medical services of FC Barcelona are informed of all the details." Even with the discomfort indicated by the RFEF, Luis de la Fuente decided to keep Ferran Torres on the field for the full 90 minutes of the match against Georgia last Saturday. In contrast, the other two starting forwards, Oyarzabal and Yéremy Pino, were substituted in the second half by Borja Iglesias and Alejandro Baena. The player from Foios will undergo further medical tests at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper to determine the exact extent of his ailment. It is hoped that the evolution of the overload will be favorable and that he will be available for Barcelona´s next league commitment: on Saturday, October 18 against Girona (4:15 PM) at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, although for the moment his participation is in doubt.

The break that doesn´t give a break

This second international break of the season, corresponding to the month of October, began with a new episode of the ‘Lamine Yamal case’. In the first international window, the young forward arrived with discomfort in the pubis and, due to poor management by the RFEF, these worsened instead of improving. A month later, he was called up again, but FC Barcelona notified that the discomfort had reappeared, which is why Luis de la Fuente opted to withdraw him again. As already mentioned, Dani Olmo also returned early to Barcelona last Saturday. According to the federation´s statement, the player arrived at the camp "with signs of muscle fatigue as reported by FC Barcelona," and after undergoing "some complementary tests," he was diagnosed with "a muscle injury of which the medical services of FC Barcelona have been informed." With several players still competing with their national teams, the ‘FIFA virus’ is once again taking its toll on the blaugrana team. Players such as Rashford, Koundé, De Jong, Bardghji, Cubarsí, Pedri, Christensen, and Lewandowski still need to return to the Catalan capital, while Barça´s infirmary continues to accumulate worrying injuries.