Arrascaeta lands in Rio on Wednesday, surgery on Thursday | OneFootball

No. 10 fractured his left wrist while playing for Uruguay and will undergo his second surgery of 2026

Arrascaeta arrives in Rio de Janeiro this Wednesday (30), with landing scheduled for 4 p.m. (Brasília time). The midfielder returns from the FIFA international window with a fracture in his left wrist and will undergo surgery as early as Thursday morning (01).

According to an official statement released by Flamengo, the Uruguayan will be admitted on Thursday morning (01) for the final pre-op exams. Shortly afterward, the doctors will perform the procedure. According to Coluna do Fla’s report on the surgery details, the operation is expected to begin early in the afternoon.

The club has also decided who will lead the surgery. In the statement, Flamengo explained: “The surgery to repair a fracture in the left wrist, suffered during the friendly between Uruguay and South Korea, will be carried out shortly afterward. Fernando Sassaki, head of Fla’s Medical Department, will lead the procedure alongside Roberto Feres, a specialist in this type of injury.”

How did Arrascaeta fracture his wrist while playing for Uruguay?

The injury happened on Monday (28), during Uruguay’s 4-1 win over South Korea in Seoul. With no challenge involved, Arrascaeta slipped on the pitch and braced himself with his left hand to cushion the fall.

Up to that point, the No. 10 had already scored a goal and provided an assist. However, the pain forced coach Diego Forlán to substitute him in the 32nd minute of the second half.

Tests carried out in South Korea confirmed the fracture and the need for surgery. For that reason, Flamengo requested the player’s immediate return to Brazil, with Sassaki’s approval, to reassess him before the operation.

When will Arrascaeta play for Flamengo again?

Officially, Flamengo has not yet set a recovery timetable. The time he will be sidelined will depend on the surgical technique used and the midfielder’s progress in the following weeks.

Behind the scenes, however, the first projections are already circulating. According to ESPN, the club’s medical department is working with an estimated six-week layoff. In addition, Coluna do Fla reported that the club is pessimistic about a return before that period.

A more cautious estimate came from physiotherapist Nelson Marques. In an interview with Coluna do Fla about the wrist fracture, he described the injury as a Colles fracture and projected a recovery time of 60 to 90 days. Even so, the specialist stressed that the timeline varies depending on age, severity, and the surgical technique.

With that, the club’s internal planning points to another scenario. According to Coluna do Fla’s reporting, the board is working with the possibility of having the midfielder back only for a potential Libertadores final.

Matches Arrascaeta could miss

He is already confirmed out against Santos on October 8 at Vila Belmiro. In addition, Arrascaeta is expected to miss both legs of the Libertadores semifinal against Estudiantes (ARG).

If the six-week timeline is confirmed, the Uruguayan would miss at least eight scheduled matches. See Flamengo’s schedule confirmed by the CBF and the Libertadores fixtures during that period:

The absence comes at a decisive moment in the season. Before the FIFA international window, the team took over the lead in the Brasileirão with 60 points, three ahead of Palmeiras. Meanwhile, according to Estadão, Carrascal is emerging as one of the options to take over the playmaking role.

Arrascaeta’s second fracture in 2026

The wrist injury is the midfielder’s second fracture of the season. On April 29, Arrascaeta fractured his right clavicle against Estudiantes (ARG) at Estadio UNO in the Libertadores group stage.

On that occasion, the Uruguayan fell on his shoulder after a collision with Piovi, still in the first half. The next day, he underwent surgery in Rio and had a plate and screws inserted in his clavicle.

Now, the same opponent crosses his path again in another injury setback. This time, however, the clash with Estudiantes (ARG) is for a place in the continental final, and the No. 10 is expected to watch both matches from the sidelines.

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