When Will Kvaratskhelia Return: A Dramatic Injury, His Condition, and the Results of His Tests

Paris Saint-Germain defeated Barcelona in a spectacular match Tuesday night at the Parc des Princes, but the day after the match, the focus of the media and fans is entirely on the condition of Khvitcha Kvaratskhelia, who injured his knee after a collision with Barcelona player Xavi Espart.

The Georgian forward grimaced in pain on the field, clutching his knee, and was forced to leave the field supported by members of the coaching staff: the former Napoli player could not put any weight on his foot. Initial tests were not encouraging, and Wednesday’s MRI confirmed what everyone feared: a torn cruciate ligament in his right knee that will sideline the Ballon d’Or candidate for the entire season.

As reported by L’Equipe, Kvaratskhelia will undergo surgery in the coming hours and will be sidelined for a long time.

According to Angel Villanueva, a Spanish physical therapist specializing in ACL rehabilitation, the player risks being out for up to 9 months. ““The mechanism of the injury shows tibial anteriorization, which is one of the most suspicious visual signs of an ACL tear. However, we must be cautious, because the quality of the live footage and the camera angle do not allow for a precise biomechanical assessment,” Villanueva wrote on X.

In addition to him, Luis Enrique has also lost Dembelé, Marquinhos, and Dani Olmo to injury. The muscle injuries appear to be particularly serious for the first two, and they will be monitored over the coming weeks.