Barcelona’s summer signing Thomas Vermaelen is yet to kick a ball for his new club in a competitive match, but the Belgian insists that he is set to return after a tough time with a serious injury.
Vermaelen suffered a tendon injury at the World Cup which was initially thought to be a minor strain, but upon returning to pre-season training with Arsenal, it quickly became clear that the diagnosis would be much more severe.
In many cases, a player with such an injury never secures a big move, but Barcelona’s impending transfer ban meant that a deal was concluded quickly, despite the club knowing the severity of the situation.
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“Barcelona did notice the seriousness of the injury when they did the medical and there were two options,” Vermaelen said on his Facebook page (via the Mirror).
“You could do surgery but they said it’s not necessary you can do it with preventative exercises, make it as strong as you can and then it shouldn’t be a problem.
“Everything is going according to plan, therefore I am right on schedule to get back in the squad in April, I am looking forward to contributing to Barca’s success this season.”
The Catalan giants signed Vermaelen from Arsenal in a £15m move, which was the second deal between the two clubs over the summer after the signing of Alexis Sanchez for the Gunners.
Gerard Pique has regained his form this season which has softened the blow with regards to Vermaelen’s absence, but Barcelona still need their defensive signing fit and ready to prove to the fans that he was worth the hassle.