Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado could be out for the next two months after suffering a knee injury during his side’s 4-2 victory over Atletico Madrid on Sunday.
Further tests are planned but it is feared the 21-year-old has torn the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) in his right knee with it still to be decided if he will undergo surgery on the issue.
He has subsequently been withdrawn from the Spain national team before their Nations League fixtures against the Netherlands on March 20 and March 23.
Casado is expected to have suffered the injury during a collision with Atletico’s Antoine Griezmann in the first half of the game. He continued into the second half before he was replaced by Eric Garcia in the 67th minute.
MEDICAL NEWS | Tests this morning revealed that first-team player M. Casadó has a ligament injury in his right knee. He will undergo further testing to determine the full extent of the injury and subsequent treatment. pic.twitter.com/4Kd4Wflwjk
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 17, 2025
Casado was enjoying a breakthrough season with Barcelona this campaign. He made his La Liga debut under Xavi in March 2024, but this season he has established himself as a first-team regular under Hansi Flick.
The midfielder has made 36 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring one goal, providing six assists, and forming a successful midfield pivot alongside Pedri.
He made his first two appearances for Spain’s national team in November.
Barcelona defender Inigo Martinez, who signed a one-year contract extension last week, has also withdrawn from the Spain squad for their upcoming March fixtures with a knee injury of his own.
Martinez and Casado have been replaced by Bayer Leverkusen’s Aleix Garcia and Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen, in what is the 19-year-old’s first senior call-up to the side.
(Maria Gracia Jimenez/Soccrates/Getty Images)