Ghanaian young defender, Hafiz Gariba has suffered a setback in his bid to impress Barcelona’s first-team coaching staff after illness ruled him out of the club’s pre-season training camp in England.
The 19-year-old centre-back was initially included in Hansi Flick’s plans following an outstanding 2025/26 campaign, earning the opportunity to train alongside Barcelona’s senior squad for the first time.
However, according to BarcaTimes, Gariba has been unable to train over the past week after falling ill, forcing him to miss out on the 30-man squad that travelled to England for the club’s pre-season preparations.
The setback comes at an unfortunate time for the young Ghanaian, whose rapid rise at Barcelona has attracted attention. Gariba joined the Catalan giants in 2025 from Spanish academy side Fundación Marcet and has made steady progress through the club’s ranks.
His performances over the past season convinced Flick to hand him a chance with the first team, highlighting the club’s belief in his long-term potential despite his young age.
Barcelona are holding their pre-season training camp at St. George’s Park in England from July 27 to August 3, where they are scheduled to play friendly matches against Birmingham City and Preston North End.
Hafiz Gariba will now focus on recovering from illness as he looks to return to action and continue his development with the Spanish champions.