Official: Barcelona confirm club captain will undergo surgery for thigh injury | OneFootball

As was confirmed by various media outlets earlier today, FC Barcelona have officially announced that key defender and club captain Ronald Araujo will undergo surgery to address his thigh injury.

“Tests carried out at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper have shown that first-team player Ronald Araujo has an injury to the hamstring tendon of his right thigh,” the statement from the club read.

“In the coming days, he will undergo surgical treatment by Dr. Lasse Lempainen, under the supervision of the Club’s medical services, in Turku (Finland). At the end of the intervention, a new medical statement will be provided.”

Araujo suffered the thigh injury during Uruguay’s Copa America quarterfinal clash against Brazil a week or so ago, when he was forced off the pitch half an hour into the match.

It was initially expected that he could be out for two months. But after undergoing tests under the supervision of the club’s medical staff today, it has been decided that the defender will undergo surgery.

As such, it is expected that Araujo could be out of action for four months, ruling him out for almost the entire first half of the season until December.

In light of Araujo’s injury, it is likely that Barcelona keep hold of the services of both Eric Garcia and Inigo Martinez, so as to maintain defensive depth.

It is far from an ideal start to the managerial reign of Hansi Flick who will now be without Araujo and Gavi for the good chunk of the first half of the season.

In addition, Pedri is also expected to miss the start of the season due to injury while Pau Cubarsi and Fermin Lopez might also be absent if they return late from the Olympic Games.