Barcelona defender Andreas Christensen has opted out of international duty with Denmark during the upcoming break, choosing instead to prioritize recovery in Catalonia.
The decision follows his recent injury setback during Barcelona’s victory over Atletico Madrid on Sunday night.
Christensen, who has recently been utilized in midfield, has played a vital role in Barcelona’s defensive stability, contributing to an impressive 400-minute streak without conceding domestically.
However, discomfort in his Achilles tendon during the warm-up at the Metropolitano led Xavi Hernandez to take a cautious approach and exclude him from the match.
While reports indicate that Christensen is not dealing with a specific injury but rather tendonitis that has persisted since the beginning of the season, casting doubt on his fitness.
With Denmark set to play friendlies against Switzerland and the Faroe Islands, manager Kasper Hjulmand has opted not to summon Christensen, allowing him to recover in Barcelona from what is described as a ‘minor injury’. Jacob Rasmussen of Brondby has been called up as his replacement.
Xavi explained to the press after the match, “He doesn’t have a definitive injury. As a former player, I’ve experienced this too. He is suffering from Achilles tendonitis, which causes prolonged pain. He informed us before the match that he wouldn’t be able to play.”
It is expected that Christensen will be ready for Barcelona’s upcoming fixture against Las Palmas in two weeks’ time at Montjuic. However, his fitness remains a concern heading into the Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain in mid-April.
While Barcelona anticipates the return of Frenkie de Jong by then, none of their other midfield options are ideally suited to play as the deepest midfielder, except for Oriol Romeu. Nevertheless, Xavi has shown hesitance to rely on Romeu in recent matches.
Christensen’s absence highlights the importance of maintaining squad depth and effectively managing player fitness, especially during crucial phases of the season.
Barcelona will prioritize his full recovery ahead of pivotal fixtures as they continue to compete on multiple fronts under Xavi’s guidance.
