Barcelona winger Bessio returns to bench on crutches after ankle scare

Barcelona are cautiously optimistic about the condition of Belgian winger Bessio after he was carried off on a stretcher during the Catalonia Cup final against Sabadell.

The Barcelona reserve-team player suffered the injury after a strong challenge from a Sabadell defender at the Nova Creu Alta on Wednesday evening. He was unable to continue and was taken from the pitch by the medical staff for an initial assessment of his right ankle.

However, early examinations have reportedly failed to show a fracture, providing some relief after the severity of the incident and the images of Bessio leaving the field caused considerable concern.

According to Sport, Barcelona have provisionally ruled out an ankle fracture following checks carried out first on the pitch and later in the dressing room at the Nova Creu Alta. The club will wait until Thursday before conducting further medical tests to establish the full extent of the injury.

Bessio’s return to the stadium in the second half offered another encouraging sign. He rejoined his team-mates on the substitutes’ bench rather than being taken to a medical centre, although his right ankle was immobilised.

The Belgian was later pictured wearing a medical boot and using two crutches. That suggested the injury was not minor, even though the initial examinations had excluded the worst-case scenario for the time being.

Barcelona therefore remain relatively hopeful while they await the results of the final tests. The club does not currently regard the injury as especially serious, but the nature of the challenge and the need for an ankle brace mean that the medical assessment remains important.

Bessio had made a positive impression since arriving at Barcelona during preparations for the current season. He was given the opportunity to train with the first team and stood out in a friendly against Basel, scoring twice and attracting the attention of the coaching staff.

His performances had raised expectations around his development, with Barcelona relying on him to continue progressing and growing in the coming months. The injury has consequently caused concern within the club, particularly because of the way it occurred, but the initial diagnosis has prevented immediate fears of a major setback.

Bessio’s availability will become clearer once he undergoes the additional examinations on Thursday. Until then, Barcelona’s assessment remains one of cautious optimism rather than certainty.