Bad news for Papu Gómez: ankle injury rules him out for the season | OneFootball

More bad news for Papu Gómez: after returning to the pitch in Italy’s second division with Padova following a two-year suspension for a positive doping test, the Argentine midfielder is now dealing with a serious ankle injury, and surgery will rule him out for the rest of the 2025/26 season.

After two difficult years for the former Arsenal de Sarandí and San Lorenzo player, Serie B side Padova opened its doors to him in July 2025, and he quickly took on a crucial role in the team, wearing the captain’s armband and helping a squad fighting to stay in the division. However, after taking a knock in a match against Mantova in January, he began to struggle with discomfort in his right ankle that affected his continuity, and he played in only two of the last twelve matches.

After his last game on March 21, and following consultations with specialists, the World Cup-winning midfielder decided to undergo surgery to put an end to the pain, at the cost of missing the remainder of the season with the Italian club. His ankle problems are nothing new: he already suffered an injury there that nearly kept him out of the 2022 Qatar World Cup, where he played only two matches.

In any case, the former Atalanta player does not plan to retire anytime soon. After his surgery in Pisa, the midfielder plans to return and begin his recovery close to the Padova squad, with whom he is under contract until mid-2027. Despite being unable to play again in the competition, Papu knows this is the time to support the team as it battles to avoid relegation to Serie C.

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