Barcelona striker Martin Braithwaite has suffered a major injury blow just weeks after Premier League rivals West Ham United and Spurs missed out on his signature, as reported by the BBC.
Braithwaite can’t catch a break.
Clutching his left knee in agony after the recent 2-1 victory over Getafe, any hopes we had of seeing a former Middlesbrough benchwarmer start up front for Barcelona alongside one-time Newcastle United flop Luuk de Jong are over, for the time being at least.
According to the BBC, Braithwaite will be out of action for four months, meaning the Denmark international may have played his last game of 2021 already.
West Ham and Spurs missed out on Barcelona star Braithwaite
The 30-year-old has joined fellow poacher Sergio Aguero on the sidelines, a major blow to his hopes of securing a key role under Ronald Koeman.
Braithwaite, remember, rejected a number of offers to leave Camp Nou in the transfer window to fight for his place at one of the biggest clubs in the world.
Cash-strapped Barcelona accepted a £13 million bid from West Ham late in the summer window.
Braithwaite, who was also a target for Tottenham Hotspur, Burnley and Brighton and Hove Albion, turned down a fresh start at the London Stadium, however, desperate to make a name for himself in the post-Messi era at Catalonia (Sport).
And, for a while at least, things appeared to be going to plan.
Two goals and an assist during a “masterclass” of a performance in the 4-1 opening day victory over Real Sociedad looked like a sign of things to come from Braithwaite.
Now, with the striker set for an extended period on the treatment table, it’s starting to feel like little more than a false dawn.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
