FC Barcelona's star player, Alexia Putellas, will undergo knee surgery for the second time after sustaining an injury in November.
On December 27th, Alexia Putellas will have another knee operation in Barcelona. The talented footballer, who has won the Women's Ballon d'Or twice, experienced a relapse in her left knee at the end of November while with the Spanish national team in Madrid. This is the same knee that was injured in July 2022 during Euro 2022, when she suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury. The upcoming surgery will involve arthroscopy on her left knee.
This is a significant setback for FC Barcelona, as Putellas has already missed the last seven matches and will also be unable to participate in the last two group stage games of the Women's Champions League. It is also a blow for the Spanish national team, which is preparing for the final stages of the Nations League in February, with qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics at stake. The two-time Ballon d'Or winner (2021 and 2022) has set her sights on this major goal. She has also achieved success by winning the Women's Champions League in 2021 and 2023 with Barcelona, as well as being crowned world champion with Spain in August last year in Australia.
The duration of Putellas' absence has not been specified by FC Barcelona, but an update will be provided after her surgery on Wednesday. This intervention comes a month after the initial injury, highlighting the difficulty in diagnosing the issue with her knee. Initially, it was thought to be a minor problem, and she even participated in individual training sessions in December before deciding to undergo surgery. With her contract expiring in June 2024, the Barcelona star is eager to recover and return to her best form as quickly as possible.