Vermaelen's neverending ordeal

Vermaelen will be a popular name in the summer. The Belgian international, who is facing a period complicated by injury, is edging further and further from a place in the Catalan squad.

It is necessary to add that come 1st July, the full-back's contract comes to an end. According to the newspaper 'AS', it's unlikely that Barcelona will renew it.

This is due to Vermaelen's famous muscle fragility. Since he signed for the Azulgranas on 9th August 2014, his situation has not improved with the passage of time.

In his first season, the Belgian only played one match in the league. In 2015-16, the figure reached ten games and things looked bad with injuries. Already in 2016-17, the defender, on loan in Rome, barely had any significance.

The following season, Vermaelen, back at Barça, played 20 games with the team in the championship and the situation improved, but is now riddled with injuries again. So far this season, the centre-back has eleven matches under his belt.

Vermaelen was left out of the matchday squad to face Atletico due to persistent discomfort in his left leg. The Belgian reached an accumulation of 600 days of absence, a worrying figure.