Pau Cubarsi to return to Barcelona after suffering ankle injury on Spain duty
Centre-back Pau Cubarsi is set to return to Barcelona after picking up an injury while on international duty with Spain.
The 18-year-old was forced off in the 41st minute of Spain's 2-2 draw in the first leg of their UEFA Nations League quarter-final against the Netherlands on Thursday. He went down holding his ankle and received treatment on the pitch.
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Cubarsi was replaced by Dutch-born Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen, who was making his senior international debut.
Spain have confirmed Cubarsi will not part of the squad for the return leg against the Netherlands on Sunday and is returning to his club. Lazio centre-back Mario Gila has replaced him.
A statement from the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) on Friday read: 'After scans conducted, Spanish FA have decided Pau Cubarsi returns to his club, FC Barcelona, to start recovery from the problems he had in his right ankle and that prevented him from completing last game against the Netherlands.'
Any kind of significant injury would be a blow to Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick, who has seen Cubarsi form an impressive partnership with Inigo Martinez in central defence, but there is hope within the club that the teenager will be fit to face Osasuna on Thursday, March 27.
La Liga Barcelona leaders then take on Atletico Madrid in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final on April 2 and play Borussia Dortmund in a Champions League quarter-final first leg a week later.
Cubarsi made his first team debut for the Catalan club in January 2024 and went on to establish himself as a first-team regular in the remainder of the season, making 19 La Liga appearances, and received his first senior cap for Spain in March.
He turned 18 in January, which enabled him to sign a longer-term contract with Barcelona until 2029. Cubarsi has been a fixture of Flick's side this season, making 42 appearances in all competitions.
(Alex Bierens)
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