Bayern midfielder Thiago in knee injury setback
Thursday, May 15, 2014
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Thiago Alcántara will play no part in Spain's FIFA World Cup campaign, the FC Bayern München midfielder having injured the same knee that has kept him out since 29 March.
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FC Bayern München midfielder Thiago Alcántara has suffered a setback in his recovery from the knee injury that has sidelined him for the past six weeks and will consequently miss Saturday's German Cup final against Borussia Dortmund and the FIFA World Cup.
The 23-year-old, named on Tuesday in Spain's provisional squad for the finals in Brazil, was on the verge of a comeback after partially tearing the medial collateral ligament in his right knee during a Bundesliga fixture against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on 29 March.
A statement on the Bayern website reads: "[Thiago] has again sustained a partial rupture to his intra-articular ligament and will undergo surgery soon." The German champions have not confirmed how long the former FC Barcelona player will be out for.
"This is a really tough blow for Thiago, we feel really sorry for him," Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said. "He is a young player who worked hard for his comeback and the World Cup in his father's homeland. All of a sudden both dreams are shattered. We will take care of him in the upcoming weeks and will do everything necessary to get him fit for the start of the 2014/15 season."
Holders Spain will play the Netherlands, Chile and Australia in World Cup Group B.
