Barcelona defender Gerard Pique will not undergo knee surgery and will instead opt for the conservative treatment on the injury in a bid to return this season.
The news is outlined by Cadena Cope, who say that the central defender faces three to four months on the side-lines due to this decision, while surgery may have doubled that timeframe to between six and eight months, as reported by Diario AS.
💥 Informa Manolo Oliveros
📌 @3GerardPique ha decidido NO operarse y seguir un tratamiento conservador para intentar esquivar el quirófano
🏥 El tiempo estimado de baja es entre tres y cuatro meseshttps://t.co/EVmQxiwZSy
— El Partidazo de COPE (@partidazocope) November 26, 2020
It is reported that another reason for Pique not undergoing surgery is his age – he is now 34, and does not have many years left in his career, so surgery may have jeopardised his recovery in a way it would not for a younger player.
Dr. Ramon Cugat was said to have recommended surgery for such a knee injury – according to Catalunya Radio, as per Diario AS – but the Catalan club are said to support his decision.
Pique‘s injury – sustained against Atletico Madrid on Saturday – has been at the forefront of Barcelona news this week as Samuel Umtiti and Ronald Araujo are also both injured the only fit senior centre-back at the club is Clement Lenglet.
Oscar Mingueza, a 21-year-old central defender, made his senior debut against Dynamo Kiev on Thursday.