Barcelona receive major boost as three U21 stars return early for Osasuna showdown

As Barcelona prepare for their crucial La Liga clash against Osasuna on March 27, manager Hansi Flick has finally received some positive news amid a hectic international break.

The Spanish U21 squad has allowed three Barcelona players, namely Gerard Martin, Fermin Lopez and Pablo Torre to return earlier than expected, providing the German coach with a slight boost ahead of the demanding schedule.

Barcelona have a total of 13 players representing their respective national teams during this break, making it a challenging period for Flick and his coaching staff.

However, the Royal Spanish Football Federation has confirmed that Martin, Fermin and Torre have been released from U21 duties after Spain’s 2-2 draw against the Czech Republic.

Sigh of relief amidst crisis

For Martin, the match was a special moment as he made his debut for the Spanish U21 team. Meanwhile, Fermin and Torre were already regular members of Santi Denia’s squad.

Since these were only friendly matches, the Federation had no issues in allowing the players to return to Barcelona ahead of the team’s next fixture against Germany.

🚨 𝗢𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟 I Raúl Moro y David Torres se incorporan a la @SEFutbol sub-21.

Fermín López, Pablo Torre y Gerard Martín abandonan la concentración.

ℹ https://t.co/OosLFxWzEg #NuestraBase | #U21EURO pic.twitter.com/rnzPsEiZEJ
— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) March 21, 2025

The timing of the Osasuna match has caused frustration within Barcelona, as La Liga scheduled it for March 27, right in the middle of the international break.

Tight schedule

Both Barcelona and Osasuna opposed the decision, but their protests were unsuccessful. Some players will have less than 48 hours to recover from long transatlantic flights before being expected to take the field.

To add to the difficulties, Barcelona are already dealing with injuries to key players like Marc Casado and Inigo Martinez.

With another tough match against Girona scheduled for Sunday at 16:15—less than 72 hours after the Osasuna clash—Flick faces an enormous challenge in assembling a competitive squad.

The situation leaves the manager with little time to prepare and limited options in crucial positions, making Barcelona’s upcoming fixtures even more difficult to plan.

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