Rashford's Mystery Before Athletic Bilbao Clash Sparks Concern in Barcelona

Marcus Rashford has sparked a wave of concern within FC Barcelona after leaving the Joan Gamper Sports City early on Friday morning, less than 24 hours before the match against Athletic Bilbao in the 13th round of La Liga.

According to the Spanish newspaper "Sport," the English striker, one of two players who have participated in all matches this season, arrived at the club's facilities but left quickly shortly after 9 a.m., which significantly threatens his participation in tomorrow's game.

Barcelona is preparing to return to competition after the international break, boosted by the return of key players such as Juan Garcia, Raphinha, and Casado, in addition to the full recovery of Lamine Yamal. On the other hand, Pedri's absence was confirmed as he continued training alone throughout the week without any progress allowing him to be included in the squad.

Hans Flick's team will begin the final stage of 2025 with a match against Athletic Bilbao, before entering a series of tough games against Chelsea, Atlético Madrid, and Villarreal.

Rashford's participation remains the biggest mystery, as the newspaper confirmed he also missed Thursday's training and did not take part in the final session on Friday morning. Nevertheless, the club remains optimistic about preparing him for the match. If he is unable to play, Barcelona intends to issue a medical statement later today to clarify the details of his injury.