Barcelona and Spain superstar Alexia Putellas undergoes surgical examination on problematic left knee following ACL return

The forward sustained a strong blow during a Champions League match against Benfica on November 14, forcing her to exit the field at half-time after scoring two goals in a 5-0 win. Initial tests on the same night did not reveal any injury and the cause of discomfort was attributed to the severe impact on the knee. However, the discomfort persisted, which forced Putellas to seek specialised medical advice. Despite multiple tests and MRIs, the source of the issue remained unidentified which prompted the club medical staff to take the decision of undergoing an arthroscopy, a minimally invasive surgical procedure on a joint.

Barcelona put out a statement which read: "First-team FC Barcelona Women player Alexia Putellas has had an arthroscopy to examine her left knee. Doctor Joan Carles Monllau performed the procedure at Hospital de Barcelona, with supervision by the Club's Medical Services. She is unavailable for selection and her recovery will determine her return."

Dr. Joan Carles Monllau is a renowned Barcelona traumatologist. The arthroscopy is aimed at internally examining the knee and the recovery time typically ranges from two to three months. However, England international Lucy Bronze underwent a similar procedure and took less than six weeks to get back into action, which provides hope to Putellas of a relatively quicker recovery.

Putellas had picked up an anterior cruciate ligament injury in 2022 which ruled her out of the European Championship. However, she got back to optimal fitness before the FIFA World Cup in June 2023 and played a crucial role in guiding Spain to their maiden global crown.

Putellas had excused herself from Spain's national team camp in November which saw her miss the Nations League fixtures against Italy and Sweden. She has also missed several matches with her club and is now set for an extended period on the sidelines.