Barcelona teenage prodigy set for surgery, faces up to three months out | OneFootball

Barcelona youth team prodigy Dani Rodriguez’s long-awaited debut for the senior team has sadly taken a turn for the worse.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the 19-year-old suffered a serious injury during his first-team debut against Real Valladolid and is now expected to undergo surgery. This setback could keep him sidelined for up to three months.

Rodriguez, who started the game with promise, was forced off in the 38th minute after suffering an acute dislocation of his right shoulder. The injury cut short what should have been a proud and memorable moment in his career.

Medical tests were carried out to assess the damage and discuss next steps with club doctors. All signs now point towards surgery, which would mean missing the rest of the current season.

Surgery puts preseason plans at risk

The expected recovery time of two to three months not only rules him out for the rest of the season but also puts his preseason in doubt. This is a big blow, as Rodriguez was being considered by Hansi Flick for next season’s squad.

Dani Rodriguez injured his shoulder against Valladolid. (Photo by TOM GOYVAERTS/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)

Flick had handed the youngster a chance in the Valladolid match as part of his squad rotation before the Champions League semi-final clash against Inter Milan.

Despite struggling with injuries earlier in the season, Rodriguez made the most of his limited minutes for Barça Atletic.

In just 382 minutes over 10 matches (three starts), he contributed three goals and three assists — a solid return that had caught the attention of the senior coaching staff.

The 19-year-old had previously played 45 minutes for the first team in a friendly against Vissel Kobe under Xavi Hernandez in June 2023.

But this latest appearance marked his debut under Flick in a competitive match, becoming the seventh youth player to do so in the German coach’s era.

Now, Barcelona will be hoping their promising winger makes a full recovery in time to rejoin the squad later in the summer.