Devastating news for FC Porto and Dutch forward Luuk de Jong! The star striker has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, sidelining him indefinitely. De Jong sustained the injury during the match against Estoril in the 12th round of Liga Portugal.
The club confirmed the injury, stating, "Following the traumatic incident reported in the medical bulletin after the match against Estoril Praia (1-0), Luuk de Jong suffered a partial tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee."
De Jong himself expressed his devastation on social media: "Yesterday, I received the terrible news that I suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury. I am devastated... it hurts deeply to be sidelined from the pitch once again." He added, "I will face this challenge with all my strength, determined to return even stronger, both physically and mentally."
This injury is a major blow for Porto, as De Jong was just returning to form after a previous knee injury sustained in September. The 35-year-old had played three official matches and scored once for the Dragons since his return.
While the club hasn't specified a recovery timeline, ACL injuries typically require several months of rehabilitation. Fans will be eagerly awaiting updates on De Jong's progress and hoping for a swift and full recovery.
In other team news, Victor Froholdt and Diogo Costa were left out of the squad, while Deniz Gul, Yann Karamoh, and Angel Alarcon are available options for Francesco Farioli for the upcoming match against Vitoria SC.
What does this mean for FC Porto?
De Jong's absence leaves a significant void in Porto's attack. Manager Francesco Farioli will need to find a way to compensate for the loss of the experienced striker. The available options, Gul, Karamoh, and Alarcon, will need to step up and prove their worth.
Get well soon, Luuk!
The entire football community sends their best wishes to Luuk de Jong for a speedy recovery. We hope to see him back on the pitch soon!