Hansi Flick, newly appointed head coach of Barcelona, has been closely evaluating several promising players from the club’s famed La Masia academy during the early stages of pre-season. One of those under consideration was Ibrahim Diarra, a versatile attacking player who has quickly gained attention since his arrival at the club in December.
The youngster, capable of operating on both flanks or through the middle, had reportedly made a strong impression on Flick and his coaching team during initial training sessions. Plans were in place to include Diarra in the senior squad’s upcoming tour of Asia. However, those hopes have now been dashed due to a recent injury setback.
Official update on Diarra’s fitness
Barcelona confirmed in an official medical statement that Diarra has suffered a tear in the rectus femoris muscle of his right thigh. As a result, he will not be making the trip with the rest of the squad to Japan and South Korea. The club stated that his recovery timeline will depend on how his rehabilitation progresses in the coming weeks.
According to reports from Mundo Deportivo, Diarra is expected to be sidelined for approximately three to four weeks. This timeframe effectively rules him out for the remainder of Barcelona’s pre-season campaign, dealing a heavy blow to his aspirations of breaking into the first team in the near term.
Future opportunities still on the table
Despite this unfortunate development, Diarra’s future at the club remains promising. It is expected that he will feature prominently for Barça Atlètic during the upcoming 2025-26 season. Continued strong performances at the B-team level could see him back in contention for senior selection over the course of the next year.
While the injury has temporarily halted his momentum, Diarra’s rapid progress in recent months suggests that opportunities under Flick could still arise if he maintains his form once fully recovered.
