Nicolas Gonzalez has suffered a last-minute damage that may sideline him for Atletico Madrid‘s upcoming UEFA Champions League semifinal in opposition to Arsenal, with the Colchoneros pushing for a spot within the last. The setback has additionally raised questions on how the difficulty might have an effect on Lionel Messi‘s Argentina heading into the 2026 World Cup.
In accordance with Cadena Cope, Gonzalez sustained a muscle damage throughout Atletico’s coaching session on Tuesday, the day earlier than the primary leg in opposition to Arsenal. Whereas the membership has but to launch an official assertion, the Argentine ahead is predicted to overlook between three and 4 weeks, together with his return projected for late Might.
The damage additionally has contractual implications. As reported by Fabrizio Romano, Atletico Madrid is not going to be triggering their obligation to purchase clause for González, as he’ll fall wanting the minimal variety of appearances required to activate it. Nonetheless, a everlasting transfer to the Spanish capital has not been dominated out, with the Colchoneros nonetheless in talks with Juventus over a diminished payment for an eventual full switch.
The timing is especially troublesome on condition that his solely real looking probability of returning to motion earlier than the summer time could be in a possible Champions League last, scheduled for Might 31. Together with his absence confirmed, Gonzalez joins Pablo Barrios and Jose Maria Gimenez on the injured listing, with Ademola Lookman’s availability additionally unsure resulting from a separate criticism.
Nicolas Gonzalez of Atletico de Madrid celebrating.
Gonzalez and the shadow of 2022
The damage arrives at a painful second for Gonzalez, who had been heading into the Arsenal tie in robust type after scoring two excellent targets within the win over Elche, bringing his tally to 5 targets in 39 appearances for Atletico. It additionally attracts an uncomfortable parallel to an episode that’s nonetheless recent within the reminiscence of the Argentine
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Simply days earlier than Argentina’s opening sport on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Gonzalez suffered a muscle tear throughout the crew’s first coaching session in Doha, ruling him out of the match that ended with Argentina lifting the trophy. Whereas the 2026 version continues to be greater than six weeks away and he’s anticipated to recuperate in time, the reminiscence of what occurred nearly 4 years in the past will grasp over his restoration course of.
How would Argentina be affected?
Argentina nonetheless have a lot of the core that gained the World Cup in Qatar, however almost 4 years have handed, and time has begun to take its toll on some key figures. Captain Lionel Messi stays the centerpiece of every part the crew does, however with the ahead set to show 39 throughout the match, the bodily burden of masking floor when Argentina are out of possession should be carried by others, and that’s exactly the place Gonzalez’s worth turns into essential.
Head coach Lionel Scaloni has settled the crew to ensure that Messi to make the least quantity of bodily effort whereas the crew is defending by bringing a mixture of gifted and bodily gifted gamers. Nicolas Gonzalez is the kind of participant to be assigned with that process, masking the wing, both as a midfielder or as a full again, when the crew is defending, and provides help to the assault.
Nicolas Gonzalez of Argentina controls the ball.
Giuliano Simeone fills a broadly comparable function, a participant whose inclusion within the squad is pushed extra by his distinctive bodily attributes than his technical ceiling. Whereas Gonzalez additionally offers cowl at left again, having gamers of his profile obtainable shall be important for Argentina to handle the bodily calls for of a grueling World Cup schedule, making a full restoration earlier than the match begins all of the extra vital.
