Athletic Club have knockedBarcelonaout ofthe Copa del ReyQuarter-Finals in the mid-week, but that hasnot been the only disappointing and worrying news for the Blaugrana managerXavi Hernandez this week.Highly-rated talentAnsu Fatihas suffered a new injury, after which he left the field in tears, aware that he could once again be sidelined for a long period of time.
The 19-year-oldoffensive player entered the game after the one-hour markbut lasted only 35 minutes on the field before being replaced owing to a hamstring issue. A worrying fact is that it is his second hamstring injuryof the season, as the first one required surgery that kept him out of action for65 days, and a total of 11 games in all competitions.
“Tests carried out on the first team player Ansu Fati on Friday confirmed that he has a proximal tendon injury in the hamstring of his left leg. In the coming days, the treatment to be carried out will be decided”, said the La Ligaclub in a statement.
How long will Ansu Fati be sidelined?
Reputable Catalan media closeto Barcelona claim that Fati’s rehabilitation period is estimated to be aroundsix to eightweeks. On the other hand, it isDiario AS whorevealthat the club has proposed to the player to undergo a new surgery and solve the problem for good.
A fresh newintervention is believed to bethe safest solution, but the drawback is that it could rule the Spanish winger for at least three months. The period of rehabilitation from tendon surgery isthreeto fivemonths, but whether he wouldundergo a surgical procedureor choose a moreconservative treatment, is up to nobody else but theplayer himself.
Depending on the intensity and speed of his recovery, Faticould even be ruled out for the remainder of the season. The all-time youngest debutant in the Spanish national teamhas had no luck at all with injuries in the past yearsafter emerging from the La Masia academy, having beensidelined up to 413 days, and 75 games forthe Catalan team, as per Transfermarkt.