Valencia CF winger Diego López underwent a third surgical procedure on his right knee in Madrid on Tuesday, performed by the same medical team that carried out his two previous operations. This new arthroscopy to remove adhesions represents another setback in what has become one of the club's most delicate recovery processes.
The original injury, an anterior cruciate ligament rupture, occurred in the final match of last season against FC Barcelona at Mestalla. The first reconstructive surgery was on June 10, but complications with edema delayed the initial operation. In August, a second intervention addressed adhesion problems in the joint without significantly altering the initial timelines, which pointed to a return in 2027.
The priority is no longer a specific return date. After nearly four months since the first operation, the goal of this third surgery is to unblock the recovery process. Diego López will remain under observation until hospital discharge, and only after overcoming this latest setback and assessing the knee's response can he accelerate re-adaptation work. Due to this long-term absence, the club did not register him with a federative license at the start of the season, anticipating he would be unavailable for the first half of the championship.
The team is going through a tough spell in the competition, sitting 19th in LaLiga with just 4 points after seven matchdays. Their next fixture is against Racing Santander on October 11, as they seek a result to improve a run of just one win in their last five games.
Captain José Luis Gayà recently received an award from APAVCF and, when asked about the team's situation, expressed confidence in the manager. "Aguirre is a very demanding coach with experience in LaLiga. I am convinced we will overcome this situation," Gayà stated. Meanwhile, the first team prepares for the trip to Santander with Diego López's long-term absence confirmed.
More detail at valenciacf.com
