One of the six survivors of the Chapecoense air disaster Alan Ruschel will play for the Brazilian club in a pre-season friendly against Barcelona.
Eight months ago, the plane which was travelling with the Brazilian team's squad to face Atletico Nacional in Colombia for the final of the Copa Sudamericana crashed and killed 71 people on board.
Those among the dead were the players, club representatives, journalists and the flight crew.
The defender required surgery on a serious back injury he sustained from the crash but the Brazilian has returned to full training for the second half of the season.
Chapecoense published a statement on their website announcing the return of the 27-year-old.
Chapecoense can confirm that after a joint decision by the board, the department of football and the player himself, who is fit to play, the official return of Alan Ruschel to the side will take place on August 7 against Barcelona at the Nou Camp.
Alan's return represents an important step in his recovery and in the process of rebuilding the squad.
Considering the magnitude of this match against a great Spanish team, in one of the temples of world football, we recognise that the game represents the ideal occasion for his return.
Chapecoense currently lie in mid table in Brazil's Serie A after 16 games, but the return of the defender is a massive boost to everyone involved at the club.
The relatively small club have slowly but surely rebuilt their squad in time for the season which is incredible feat after such a devastating situation.
Hopefully, sometime in the future Chapecoense can make it back to the Copa Sudamericana final and win it for those who lost their lives last November.
