Barcelona confirm Kika Nazareth will miss about four weeks with injury

Barcelona forward Kika Nazareth is expected to be sidelined for approximately four weeks after suffering an injury to the posterior part of the popliteus muscle in her left thigh.

The Catalan club announced the diagnosis in an official medical statement on Monday, following examinations carried out after the Portugal international returned from the team’s training camp in Andorra.

Nazareth had been present with her Barcelona team-mates but was unable to take part in the final training sessions before the tests confirmed the extent of the problem.

Barcelona have not set a definitive date for her return. The club said the estimated four-week recovery period would depend on the player’s clinical and functional progress, meaning her availability could change according to how she responds to treatment and rehabilitation.

The injury is another setback for Nazareth as she attempts to establish greater continuity at Barcelona. The Portugal forward had entered pre-season hoping to build the regular involvement she was unable to achieve during her first two campaigns with the club because of recurring physical problems.

She suffered a serious injury that ruled her out for the closing stages of the 2024-25 season. A number of less significant injuries during the previous campaign also restricted her opportunities and prevented her from featuring consistently.

Those interruptions affected her attempts to secure a regular place in Barcelona’s starting line-up, with the latest issue now forcing her to begin another period of rehabilitation just as the club prepares for the new season.

Nazareth will now work towards a gradual return to full training and to the team’s competitive rhythm. Barcelona are preparing to begin a campaign in which they will aim to defend their domestic and European titles.

The player will hope this latest absence marks the end of the physical difficulties that have disrupted her progress since joining the Catalan club. She will also be determined to return strongly and reproduce the level of performance she showed before a series of injuries interrupted her time at Barcelona.

Her recovery will be monitored through both medical and functional assessments, with the club expected to judge her progress before deciding when she can resume full involvement with the squad. The initial estimate remains around four weeks, although that timeframe is not fixed and will depend on her rehabilitation.