The talented youngster who topped the 2021 NXGN chart first went under surgery back in November, but he has failed to recover as hoped from a ligament injury.
Fati is due to revisit the operating table
Ansu Fati will undergo second knee surgery at Barcelona, the forward seeing his 2020-21 season brought to a close and European Championship dreams spoiled. The talented youngster who topped the 2021 NXGN chart first went under surgery back in November, but he has failed to recover as hoped from a ligament injury. As reported in Spain, Fati is due to revisit the operating table, and plans are in place for that to happen next week, possibly Thursday, May 13. Renowned surgeon Dr Ramon Cugat saw Fati after he broke down early in the campaign, but it is now clear that he will be visiting the team doctor of the Portugal national squad. He is also expected to meet with Dr Antonio Maestro and Dr Bertrand Sonnery-Cottet, a knee specialist.
The forwards 2020-21 season has been cancelled
Barcelona have agreed that further medical attention is required as Fati’s rehabilitation did not go as planned, and he remains forced on the sidelines with no return date in sight. Fati underwent knee surgery on November 8, 2020, and was discharged from the hospital a couple of weeks later. Fati’s recovery is expected to take about four months, allowing him to step back into the fold under Ronald Koeman, as major honours were chased down at home and abroad. However, from January, it became clear that Fati would not return to the position, and another visit to Dr Cugat, with “medical intervention” being sought rather than another operation. Fati’s left knee, however, remains problematic, and the match against Real Betis on November 7 – when he had to be replaced by Lionel Messi at half-time – shows the last time he has seen in competitive action.
Having already been out of action for six months, Fati still has a long road to recovery. His 2020-21 season has been cancelled, and he will not have a role with Spain at this summer’s European Championship.