Barcelona Forward Fati to Return from Injury for Mallorca Game

Barcelona forward Ansu Fati. (AFP)
Barcelona forward Ansu Fati. (AFP)
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Barcelona Forward Fati to Return from Injury for Mallorca Game

Barcelona forward Ansu Fati. (AFP)
Barcelona forward Ansu Fati. (AFP)

Barcelona forward Ansu Fati will return to the squad for Sunday's La Liga game at home with Mallorca, after being out for more than three months due to a hamstring injury, head coach Xavi Hernandez said.

Fati has not played for Barcelona since coming on as a substitute in their Copa del Rey quarter-final defeat at Athletic Bilbao on Jan. 20, his tenth appearance this season.

"We are going to get the squad list tomorrow (Sunday) but Ansu is going to be in it. We have seen great things with him, he is feeling well and got a good sensation," Xavi said.

"Over the last two weeks, we have seen great improvement. If everything goes well, he is going to play some minutes. He's happy, he's smiling, and he's a player who can make a difference.

"It's a shame we haven't been able to use him all these months ... I'm happy to have him back. He's a special player and he's going to be good for us in these final five games."

The 19-year-old Fati, who came through the youth system at the Catalan club, has also had to fight his way back from multiple surgeries to repair a November 2020 injury to his left knee.

Barcelona are already without Pedri (thigh), Nico Gonzalez (toe fracture), Ousmane Dembele (tonsillitis), Sergino Dest (hamstring), Sergi Roberto (muscle), Samuel Umtiti (foot) and Martin Braithwaite (COVID-19) for Sunday's game.

With the league title already sealed by Real Madrid, Barcelona are looking to finish second and secure Champions League qualification. They are currently third on 63 points, one point behind second-placed Sevilla who have played a game more.



Dutch Leave de Jong, Van Dijk Out of Last Nations League Clash

Netherlands' Teun Koopmeiners (2ndR) is congratulated by teammates Netherlands' defender #04 Virgil van Dijk (R) and Netherlands' forward #09 Wout Weghorst (2ndL) after scoring a goal during the UEFA Nations League football match between the Netherlands and Hungary at the Johan Cruyff ArenA on November 16, 2024 in Amsterdam. (AFP)
Netherlands' Teun Koopmeiners (2ndR) is congratulated by teammates Netherlands' defender #04 Virgil van Dijk (R) and Netherlands' forward #09 Wout Weghorst (2ndL) after scoring a goal during the UEFA Nations League football match between the Netherlands and Hungary at the Johan Cruyff ArenA on November 16, 2024 in Amsterdam. (AFP)
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Dutch Leave de Jong, Van Dijk Out of Last Nations League Clash

Netherlands' Teun Koopmeiners (2ndR) is congratulated by teammates Netherlands' defender #04 Virgil van Dijk (R) and Netherlands' forward #09 Wout Weghorst (2ndL) after scoring a goal during the UEFA Nations League football match between the Netherlands and Hungary at the Johan Cruyff ArenA on November 16, 2024 in Amsterdam. (AFP)
Netherlands' Teun Koopmeiners (2ndR) is congratulated by teammates Netherlands' defender #04 Virgil van Dijk (R) and Netherlands' forward #09 Wout Weghorst (2ndL) after scoring a goal during the UEFA Nations League football match between the Netherlands and Hungary at the Johan Cruyff ArenA on November 16, 2024 in Amsterdam. (AFP)

Captain Virgil van Dijk and midfielder Frenkie de Jong have both been released from international duty this week and will not travel for the Netherlands' last Nations League group game against Bosnia & Herzegovina, coach Ronald Koeman said.

"For both Frenkie and Virgil, it is better for them to leave the training camp at this time," Koeman said in a statement on Monday.

"That decision was made on medical grounds, with the interests of the players paramount, of course."

The Dutch will not call up any replacements with Koeman still able to pick from 23 players for Tuesday's Group A3 clash in Zenica.

Both De Jong and Van Dijk played in Saturday's 4-0 win over Hungary in Amsterdam which secured second place in the group for the Dutch and progress to the Nations League quarter-finals in March.

Van Dijk played the full 90 minutes while De Jong was substituted after 68 minutes.

It was the first game back in the Netherlands national team in 13 months for De Jong, who last season battled with an ankle injury and missed out on the European Championship in Germany this year.

On Saturday, the Barcelona midfielder said he "still needs some time" before finding his form although his return to the Dutch side drew positive reviews.