Official: Barcelona confirm hamstring injury to defender, unlikely to play again in 2023

In the lead-up to the game against Atletico Madrid last night, Barcelona had to make a late change to the starting XI.

Inigo Martinez was withdrawn from the side and replaced with Andreas Christensen after the former felt some discomfort during warm-up.

It was reported that the issue was nothing serious and that the change was only done as a precaution.

Martinez has a hamstring injury

Now, though, after conducting tests and examinations of Martinez today, Barcelona have confirmed that the centre-back has injured his right hamstring.

“Tests carried out have revealed that Íñigo Martínez has a right hamstring injury. He is out and his recovery will determine his availability,” the statement from the club read.

This comes as a blow considering that Martinez had been in fine form in recent weeks and performed admirably at the heart of the Blaugrana defence.

Having recovered from the fascia injury that he was carrying forward since last season, the summer arrival had become a regular in the side, relegating Christensen to the bench.

Martinez unlikely to play again in 2023

While Barcelona have not specified a recovery timeline for Martinez, a report from SPORT has provided an update on his potential return.

Going by the nature of his injury, the report claims that the Spanish international is unlikely to play any of the Catalans’ matches in the remainder of 2023.

Martinez is definitively ruled out of the upcoming games against Girona, Royal Antwerp, and Valencia.

There might be a possibility that he recovers in time for the game against Almeria before the Christmas break, but Xavi is expected to not rush him back and wait until the turn of the year.

Martinez is not the only Barcelona player who is expected to not play again in 2023, with goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen also facing a similar fate. Meanwhile, Gavi is out for the rest of the season.

Source link : https://barcauniversal.com/official-barcelona-confirm-hamstring-injury-to-defender-unlikely-to-play-again-in-2023/

Author : Michel Durant

Publish date : 2023-12-04 12:21:30

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