Salma Paralluelo, still without minutes: When will she return to play with Barça?

The FC Barcelona Women’s team started the season without Salma Paralluelo, one of its key players. The 21-year-old forward, twice third in the Ballon d'Or, has not played a single minute since the Paris Olympic Games. Although clinically not injured, her absence has raised questions among fans.

Coach Pere Romeu has explained in several appearances that Salma is following a specific readaptation plan: "She is working at full capacity with double sessions. She is slowly entering training, but is not completing them yet. We hope she will soon be back with the team."

The decision to slow her down is due to multiple factors. The main one is the high number of minutes accumulated in the last few seasons, both with Barça and the Spanish national team, which has caused physical discomfort. Additionally, her athletic build and medical history – including an anterior cruciate ligament injury in 2021 – make the club extremely careful with her recovery.

From Barça, they highlight that Paralluelo not only faced a demanding calendar last season, but also arrived in the summer with little rest, having participated in the Olympic Games before starting preseason. This physical and mental wear and tear led the coaching staff to agree on a plan with the player and the Spanish Federation so that she would not be called up in the recent international windows.

Currently, the player is following a conditioning program that includes specific exercises and partial sessions with the group. Although she does not complete the training, she participates in activities tailored to her progress. Her return will be gradual, always depending on how she feels.