Atletico Madrid have confirmed that Johnny Cardoso requires surgery. The American midfielder suffered a high-grade ankle sprain with joint involvement after a training injury.
Cardoso, seen here facing Arsenal, has struggled with his ankle throughout his debut season at the Wanda Metropolitano. Although he has clocked up significant minutes, the former Real Betis player has not yet become the key figure many expected.
The injury occurred during a training session last Thursday, triggering a serious sprain that also affected the joint. Initially, his availability for the World Cup was uncertain, but Atletico’s latest statement has ruled him out of contention for Mauricio Pochettino’s squad.
“Johnny Cardoso will have to undergo surgery to treat the injury to his right ankle. The American suffered a trauma during training last Thursday, which led to a high-grade sprain with articular involvement,” the club announced.
His season has been erratic. Diego Simeone initially placed full trust in him as a starter in the early games, but injuries hampered his consistency. Despite this, Cardoso ended up playing a substantial role in the Colchonero setup, featuring in 30 matches, 10 of which came in the Champions League.
