Arrascaeta has wrist surgery on Thursday, Flamengo target November return | OneFootball

Number 10 undergoes surgery for fracture in Rio de Janeiro and will miss Flamengo in the Libertadores semifinals

Arrascaeta will undergo surgery on his left wrist this Thursday (01) in Rio de Janeiro. According to reporting by Coluna do Fla, the procedure is scheduled for early afternoon. The midfielder fractured the bone during the friendly between Uruguay and South Korea on Monday (28).

Fernando Sassaki, head of Flamengo’s Medical Department, will lead the procedure. Working alongside him is orthopedist Roberto Feres, a specialist in this type of injury. Before the surgery, the medical staff will reevaluate the player and request new imaging exams.

The Uruguayan suffered a distal radius fracture, a bone located in the wrist area. Since the bone was displaced, the doctors will reposition it and secure it with a plate and screws.

Arrascaeta arrived in Rio and sent a message to the fans

The midfielder arrived in Rio on Wednesday afternoon (30), with his left arm immobilized. Upon arrival, he spoke briefly with Coluna do Fla reporters and reassured Flamengo fans:

The immediate return to Brazil came at the club’s own request. This allowed the medical department to bring forward the start of treatment. Back on Monday, Flamengo had already confirmed the need for surgery in an official medical bulletin.

When will Arrascaeta play for Flamengo again?

In an interview with FlamengoTV, Sassaki estimated the recovery time at between six and eight weeks. According to the doctor, an average person would take 8 to 12 weeks to recover from the same injury.

That means, counting from the surgery, the timeline points to a return between mid and late November. Meanwhile, the Libertadores final is scheduled for November 28 at Estadio Centenario in Montevideo.

Behind the scenes, however, the club is pessimistic about a return in fewer than six weeks. For that reason, the board is working with the possibility of having the midfielder available only for a potential continental final.

In addition, the doctor ruled out the possibility of the player competing with wrist protection. According to Sassaki, conservative treatment would require immobilization from the armpit to the wrist. That support would hinder the athlete’s running and shooting.

Arrascaeta’s absences from Flamengo’s schedule

The first match without the number 10 will be on October 8 against Santos, at 7:30 p.m., at Vila Belmiro, in the Brasileirão. Three days later, Flamengo host Fluminense at 5:30 p.m. at the Maracanã.

Next, the team faces Estudiantes (ARG) in the Libertadores semifinal. The first leg will take place on October 15 in La Plata. Then the teams will decide the spot on October 22 at the Maracanã.

As a result, coach Leonardo Jardim needs to reshuffle the midfield for this decisive stretch. The squad returned to training this week after the FIFA international break, already focused on the clash against Santos.

Arrascaeta’s second surgery in 2026

Thursday’s operation is the midfielder’s second of the season. On April 29, he fractured his right collarbone against Estudiantes in La Plata during the group stage. The following day, he underwent surgery in Rio and received a plate and screws.

Later, during preparation for the World Cup, Arrascaeta suffered an injury to his right calf. Even though he was called up, he did not play for Uruguay in the tournament.

This time, the problem came on a standout night wearing the Celeste shirt. In the 4-1 win over South Korea, the midfielder set up Darwin Núñez for the first goal in the 13th minute. Shortly after, in the 27th, he made it 2-0.

In the second half, however, Arrascaeta slipped on his own after controlling the ball, without contact from any opponent. He then braced his fall with his left hand on the turf. In severe pain, he left the field in the 32nd minute and was replaced by Rodrigo Zalazar.

After the match, exams at a Korean hospital confirmed the fracture. The Uruguay national team doctor sent the images to Sassaki, who planned the return to Rio. Now, the number 10’s recovery begins right after Thursday’s surgery.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.