Matteo Guendouzi, the French midfielder for FC Barcelona and France national team, has been ruled out for several weeks due to an injury sustained during training on Wednesday.
The 22-year-old suffered a knee problem during training and underwent further tests that confirmed the severity of his injury. The midfielder is expected to be out of action for at least three months, which means he will miss the majority of this season's UEFA Champions League campaign.
Guendouzi joined Barcelona from Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain in January 2019, where he made over 75 appearances and scored four goals. He also represented France at under-21 level before being called up to the senior squad last year.
His injury comes at a critical time for both his club and country as they look to compete in major tournaments such as the UEFA Champions League, where Barcelona face Manchester United in the round of 16.
Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman said that the club would support Guendouzi throughout his recovery process and that he was confident that the player would make a full recovery.
"We have confidence in Matteo and we know that he will recover quickly," Koeman said. "He is a very important player for us and for France."
The midfielder's absence will certainly affect Barcelona's chances of reaching the knockout stage of the tournament, but the club will likely rely on their other midfielders such as Frenkie de Jong and Sergi Roberto to fill his role.
In addition, Guendouzi's injury could also impact France's chances of qualifying for the European Championship next summer. The midfielder is one of the most talented players in France's youth system and is highly regarded by his peers and coaches alike.
However, despite his injury, Guendouzi remains a key player for both Barcelona and France, and it will be interesting to see how he recovers and returns to form.