Does Injury-Prone Thomas Vermaelen Have a Future with Barcelona?

Thomas Vermaelen’s Barcelona career is not off to a good start. The former Arsenal center-back picked up an injury during last month’s World Cup and has yet to recover, leaving the Catalans with plenty of questions about when he will be able to contribute to the team.

Vermaelen, who has been a solid defender throughout his career, is already 29 years old. If his current injury problems do not go away soon, he could be looking at a downward spiral resulting in the end of his peak as a player.

With age and injuries both factoring in, Barcelona must be wondering what the future holds for the Belgian center-back. Does Vermaelen even have a future at Barcelona? Let’s take a look.

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Before discussing the issues it is important to note why Barcelona purchased Vermaelen in the first place. The 29-year-old is an experienced defender who is great in the air and is, on paper, an answer to some of Barca's defensive problems.

While it is true that he was never going to be the leader of the back line, Vermaelen could have provided a lot for a defense that has been struggling mightily. Had he not been injured it is safe to assume that he would have seen a decent amount of playing time by this point in the season.

But he did get injured and has yet to recover. Vermaelen has not even made his debut with the club yet, and that day looks very far off.

According to ESPN FC, Vermaelen may even need surgery to correct the issues he has been facing. If that truly is the case, it could be a very long time before he is able to put on the Blaugrana shirt in a competitive match.

The way it stands now, Vermaelen has to have a future at Barcelona because he certainly doesn’t have a present. When he eventually does return to the squad he is going to be very low on the totem pole and will have to fight for even slight playing time.

That being said, if the Belgium international is able to return to his best then he will be able to offer Barcelona a lot. His ability in the air and his experience alone would strengthen the back line, but again that is only if he can find his best form.

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No one can predict the future of a player especially when it comes to injuries. Vermalen could easily recover and be at his best again soon. Then again, this could be yet another case of a player picking up an unlucky injury that derails the rest of his career.

What this really comes down to is timing. Barcelona’s defense is definitely in need of help and Vermaelen can provide some diverse coverage, but things would have to fall into place at the right time for that to happen.

As far as the future is concerned, Vermaelen is going to have to put his injuries far behind him before he is ready to be a major contributor for Barcelona. By the time that happens, age may be playing a factor in the equation as well.

So, does Vermaelen have a real future at FC Barcelona? He very well may, but the chances of him becoming a key player for the Blaugrana are very unlikely.

Does Vermaelen have a future at FC Barcelona? Can the Belgian be the answer to some of the defense issues? Leave your thoughts and comments below!