Flick’s staff closely monitoring Barcelona gem in final phase of recovery after two months out

On 19 July, Barcelona teenager Ibrahim Diarra suffered a muscle tear in the rectus femoris of his right leg during training.

The setback prevented him from joining the senior team’s pre-season tour of Japan and South Korea, where he was expected to feature and prove his worth in order to earn a place in the first-team dynamics.

Diarra close to returning; Flick’s staff keeping an eye

Seventy days later, the outlook is much more positive as the player is now entering the final stretch of his recovery. Indeed, according to SPORT, Diarra is already working on specific exercises on the pitch.

The most notable aspect of his recovery is that the entire process is being carried out alongside the physiotherapists of the senior team.

❗ COMUNICAT MÈDIC

▶ El jugador del Barça Atlètic Ibrahim Diarra té una ruptura muscular al recte anterior de la cama dreta. No viatjarà a la gira del primer equip al Japó i Corea i el seu retorn a la dinàmica es decidirà en funció de la seva evolució pic.twitter.com/cOxtlyZbww

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_cat) July 19, 2025

Flick wants to monitor him closely, as the player’s potential has attracted significant interest from his staff.

Although Diarra is not yet fully fit, the signs are encouraging, and he is expected to return within a couple of weeks. For the moment, it is still considered too early, since he has not yet completed a full training session with his teammates.

There is no exact date for Diarra’s return, as this type of injury carries the risk of relapse. Barcelona intend to ensure that he is one hundred per cent recovered before reintroducing him.

The 18-year-old versatile forward’s comeback would be a major boost for Barça Atletic, while the player himself might fancy a first-team chance, given the attention Flick’s staff has been paying to his recovery.