Will Pau Cubarsi miss Barcelona's matches after a new ankle injury?

The 17-year-old defender Pau Cubarsi is poised to return to his club, Barcelona, following an ankle injury he sustained during Thursday’s Nations League draw with the Netherlands.

Barcelona has been keen for the defender to come back, while Spain had expressed a desire for him to remain and possibly participate in the second-leg fixture of the UEFA Nations League against the Netherlands on Sunday.

Pau Cubarsi adds to Barcelona's injury concerns

It has been reported that he is departing the Spain camp after undergoing additional tests. The young player sustained a sprained right ankle during the first leg of the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals against a solid Dutch side.

“Following tests conducted by the Royal Spanish Football Federation’s Medical Services, it has been decided that the player will return to his club, FC Barcelona, to begin his recovery from the discomfort in his right ankle, which prevented him from completing the match against the Netherlands at Rotterdam’s De Kuip stadium,” read club's statement.

The young centre-back was substituted in the 41st minute of Thursday's match, which ended in a 2-2 stalemate due to the injury. Cubarsi who has already earned six caps for Spain, will be unable to participate in the second leg this Sunday in Valencia. Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente has brought in reinforcements in the form of Lazio defender Mario Gila.

The club Federation has affirmed that Cubarsi was lucky not to endure a serious injury in an important phase of the season. Barçelona's head coach Hansi Flick reiterated the club's statement asserting Cubarsi to be 'fine'. Cubarsi is expected to regain full fitness in a few days.

Premier League side, Liverpool and Netherlands veteran defender and skipper Virgil Van Dijk expressed his admiration for Barcelona's young defender. He praised Cubarsi for his extraordinary talent and explained how Cubarsi's game style matches his liking.

Pau Cubarsi started his youth career at Girona in 2014. He moved to Barçelona in 2018. He trained and played through the junior divisions of the club and got his senior call-up in 2024 when Barcelona was in a state of bother. He shouldered the responsibility of being the main defender in the absence of senior footballers like Ronaldo Araujo, Andreas Christensen and Frenkie De Jong. He has made 46 appearances for Barcelona across club competitions in his first season.