As a result of a groin injury, Barcelona winger Alex Collado will miss the next three months of his season-long loan with La Liga side Elche. The Catalan club recently provided a statement on their official site:
“Footballer Álex Collado has ruptured the adductor in his right groin. His treatment and progress will be managed jointly by the medical teams at Elche CF and FC Barcelona. His evolution will determine his availability.”
According to Javi Miguel of Diario AS, the former Barcelona B captain might not return until April at the earliest because of the injury. The loan agreement between Collado and Elche runs until June 2023. As there is no purchase option in the contract, he must return to Barcelona at the end of the season. During the 2022-23 La Liga season, the winger played nine games for Elche.
An injury to a Barcelona loanee is another setback. A fractured metatarsal has forced Nico Gonzalez, on loan with Valencia, to miss three months of action for Xavi’s side.
Alex Collado states his reason of leaving Barcelona
Alex Collado in search of regular match time went to Elche. He stated his reasons of leaving Barcelona.
“I have a contract with Barcelona until 2024 but now I am focused on having a good season here,”
he said to reporters.
“Next year it will be something else. If I can’t stay there and feel important, I look for minutes elsewhere.”
What does Collado’s injury imply?
With the January transfer window now open, Collado’s injury comes at an inopportune time. Moreover, Diario Sport reported that Olympiakos and Sassuolo had expressed interest in the winger.
It was a chance for Collado to continue to develop, experience regular first-team football, and prove to Xavi he deserved a place on the team by moving away from Barcelona.
When Collado returns at the end of the season, Barca will have to make a big decision on the winger.
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