Javier Mascherano’s hopes of making a quick comeback from injury to play for Barcelona against Bayern Munich look to have been dashed.
The Argentine was thought to be in line for a surprise return to the team for Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final second leg having returned to training exercises over the weekend.
However, Mundo Deportivo believe that whilst the player faces a final fitness test tomorrow, the club do not expect his torn knee ligaments to have healed in time.
Mascherano damaged his knee in early April’s quarter-final first leg against Paris Saint-Germain and was given a recovery estimate of six weeks.
Meanwhile, a number of players, including Lionel Messi, turned up to Barcelona’s training centre today to continue work ahead of this Wednesday’s game, despite being given the day off.