Barcelona's right-back crisis deepens with Landry Farre sidelined for 3-4 months

The 18-year-old, a versatile prospect capable of playing right-back, left-back or centre-back, was forced off during the reserve team's defeat to Espanyol B last weekend. Medical tests confirmed the damage on 19 November, with the club opting for conservative treatment rather than surgery.

Barcelona issued an official statement: “The tests carried out have shown that the Barca Atletic player Landry Farre has an injury to the lateral collateral ligament of his right knee. He will follow a conservative treatment and the estimated recovery time will be between three and four months.”

The setback is particularly untimely for head coach Hansi Flick, who is close to regaining several key players, including goalkeeper Joan Garcia, midfielder Pedri, and winger Raphinha, after the November international break. However, defensive depth, especially at right-back, remains a major concern.

Just days earlier, another highly-rated young right-back, Xavi Espart, was ruled out for 8-10 weeks with a medial collateral ligament injury in his right knee sustained on international duty with Spain U19s. Espart, also 18, had been training regularly with the first team and was seen as a potential short-term solution to ease the burden on Jules Kounde, who has often been deployed at right-back but has struggled for consistency in the position this season.

Farre had emerged as the next logical alternative from La Masia. Having joined Barcelona's academy at age seven, the Ivory Coast-born defender (who represents Spain at youth level) impressed during pre-season with the senior squad and had trained frequently with Flick's group in recent weeks.

His versatility and physical attributes had marked him as one of the club's most exciting defensive talents from the 2007 generation, alongside names like Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi.

The double blow leaves Barca Atletic coach Juliano Belletti with severely limited options at right-back, while Flick may now turn to even younger academy players, such as Joan Anaya or Guillem Víctor, for first-team cover in the coming weeks.

Barcelona return to action this weekend against Athletic Bilbao in La Liga, followed by a busy December schedule. With Kounde carrying minor discomfort and Eric Garcia needed more centrally, the right-back position will be under close scrutiny as the Catalans look to maintain their push near the top of the table.