Ansu Fati facing longer layoff and third operation on knee injury
Ansu Fati could be ruled out for Barcelona for the rest of the season, as well as Euro 2020, as the player faces surgery for a third time to correct a meniscus injury in his left knee.
Ansu Fati’s ongoing injury ordeal continues to go from bad to worse. Since the 18-year-old suffered a meniscus issue in his left knee in early November, the 18-year-old has been going through hell.
When he first went under the knife of prestigious Barcelona surgeon Ramón Cugat to correct the issue, it was predicted that the young striker would miss four months. That was the estimated timeline for an injury of this type: three months for recovery and one month of work on the grass before he could return to the disposal of coach Ronald Koeman in time for the business end of the season.
However, Fati's rehabilitation has not gone as planned. After undergoing that first operation, he was forced to spend more days than expected at Barcelona’s Quiron Hospital. He was then prevented from starting physiotherapy due to swelling in his knee.
The situation worsened to the point that at the beginning of January the young striker was forced to undergo surgery again, with Barcelona giving no official communiqué on this second procedure. Instead the club tried to cover up this second operation, claiming that Fati was undergoing regenerative therapy.
Fati unlikely to return for Barcelona this season
But unfortunately, this second operation has not managed to solve the issue as Fati continues to experience discomfort in his left knee. In fact, AS has learned that the player suffered a meniscus infection three weeks ago that set off alarm bells among his medical team.
The latest information on the situation has come from Radio Catalunya journalist Marta Carreras, who explained on the Tot Costa programme that there is currently enormous uncertainty among the medical staff about Fati's situation, with the possibility of a third operation now on the table.
If a third operation is eventually deemed the necessary course of action, it means that Fati would definitely not return before the end of the season and will almost certainly play no part for Spain at Euro 2020 or the Olympics.