Rafinha out for at least six months
Barcelona have announced that Rafinha will undergo surgery on an ACL injury and will be side-line for at least six months.
Barcelona have paid a high price for their draw against Atlético Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday night.
After Sergi Roberto had to come off in the first half after suffering a hamstring injury, it has been announced today that his replacement in the game, Rafinha Alcántara, will undergo an operation for a cruciate ligament injury, which will see him side-lined for at least six months.
A medical statement issued by Barcelona on Sunday confirmed that the player suffered "a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of the left knee” and will have surgery in next few days.
Rafinha's father, Mazinho, had publicly stated that his son had to look for a way out of Barcelona as he was not sufficiently valued at the club. But any possibility of an exit during the January transfer window have been quashed for the Brazilian. Although the player himself has claimed his father’s comments were untrue.
In any case, the truth is that the 25-year-old has been plagued by a series of injuries, which is more than worrying for a player of his age. In fact, since suffering a terrible cruciate ligament injury in a Champions League match three years ago, which kept him out for six months, he has had several injury ordeals. The latest one occurred In April last year, when he picked up a meniscal injury that side-lined him for nine months. Now the Brazilian faces another lengthy absence from Ernesto Valverde's side.
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