Strasbourg are sweating over the fitness of Valentin Barco following the alarming sight of the Chelsea-bound midfielder leaving the Stade de la Meinau on crutches with his leg in a brace.
Valentin Barco’s performance in Strasbourg’s 4–0 rout of Mainz further justifies Chelsea’s decision to try to sign him for the senior squad this summer.
His ability to manipulate space and dictate the tempo under European knockout pressure highlighted a level of maturity that has become a hallmark of his season in France.
With a six-year contract at Stamford Bridge already agreed, Barco is all but confirmed as a new player for this summer.
However, as has been the case with Emanuel Emegha, an injury is threatening his season.
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Valentin Barco spotted in crutches and a leg brace
According to Direct Racing, Valentin Barco left the Meinau stadium on crutches with his leg in a splint.
Barco took a knock against Mainz on Thursday night, went to the side of the pitch for treatment, but he came back to play and played the entire match.
However, his efforts are likely to have some after-effects after being spotted in crutches.
It’s stated that the player did not know the severity of his injury, but he will likely miss the reception of Rennes on Sunday.
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Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Emanuel Emegha has suffered a similar curse this season
Chelsea have already agreed a deal to sign Emanuel Emegha in the summer from sister club Strasbourg, but he’s had his fair share of issues.
Emegha’s 2025/26 campaign has been heavily disrupted by setbacks, most notably a persistent thigh injury sustained in early December. This was followed by a mid-winter relapse, which extended his absence to nearly four months, limiting him to just eight league appearances.
Despite these frustrations, his resilient goal-scoring return against Mainz signals a timely recovery.
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