According to a fresh update from SPORT, Ronald Araujo has returned from his Christmas holidays and is set to begin training with the rest of the squad from today, marking an important step in his gradual comeback. It has been around a month since Araujo held an important meeting with Barcelona, accompanied by his representatives, where he asked the club for time away from competitive action. Since then, Barcelona have adopted a careful and respectful approach, placing the player's well-being above any short-term sporting urgency.
164 days after his serious injury in the Club World Cup match against Paris Saint-Germain, the 22-year-old returned to the pitch on Tuesday morning and was able to participate in parts of FC Bayern's team training.
It was an emotional day at the Camp Nou, not only because supporters witnessed the first open session since the stadium's renovation, but also due to the sight of Garcia back among his teammates. For the first time since suffering an injury against Real Oviedo on September 25, the young shot-stopper trained alongside the group in front of 23,000 enthusiastic fans. His presence was met with loud cheers as he stepped onto the pitch, symbolising another step forward in his recovery.
Manchester United have received a huge boost with Lisandro Martinez edging closer to a return after spending several months sidelined with a serious knee injury. The Argentine defender has been out since February, when he suffered an ACL injury during United's 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace. Since then, the 27-year-old has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to complete his rehabilitation before the end of the year, and now, his comeback appears imminent.
