Agirrezabala sidelined for about eight weeks, could return for La Liga run-in | OneFootball

Julen Agirrezabala has undergone surgery on his left knee meniscus and is set to miss about eight weeks, keeping alive the prospect of a late-season appearance at Mestalla.

According to AS, orthopaedic surgeon Mikel Sánchez operated on Thursday after Valencia’s and, above all, Athletic’s medical teams chose surgery as the best route to recovery. The damage proved less severe than first feared.

The goalkeeper suffered the injury by accident a week ago. On Monday he travelled to Vitoria to consult trusted doctors and specialists from Athletic, the club that owns his registration.

Medical forecasts have him fully fit by late April, which would leave him available to Carlos Corberán for the final five La Liga fixtures.

Agirrezabala joined Valencia last summer on a one-year loan to replace Giorgi Mamardashvili and compete with Stole Dimitrievski. The deal includes an option to buy of around €12 million, which Valencia are not currently planning to exercise. Despite the setback, he will return to Paterna.

He has made 19 appearances for Valencia, 18 in La Liga and one in the Copa del Rey. Corberán installed him as first choice from day one, and he earned Mestalla’s respect until a muscle injury at Celta de Vigo in Balaídos early in the year. He will spend the opening weeks of his recovery in the Basque Country.

Source: AS