In every domestic league around Europe there are always those players who spend more time on the physio table than out on the pitch expending blood, sweat, and tears for their club. This often factors into the betting odds, with teams full of players who are trigger happy with their sick notes often sliding down the money lines, as the more rough and ready squads show their mettle. 2022 is no different in this regard, with lots of players from Spain’s La Liga to the UK’s Premier League suffering from injuries that are threatening to make their 21/22 season a write off, both for themselves, but also for those fans who backed them with
special wagers that can be found at odds comparison websites like oddschecker. Here is a rundown of some of the most injury prone players in European football.
Ansu Fati was supposed to be the saviour of the Barcelona and Spanish national teams, but niggling injuries have held him back
Ansu Fati – Barcelona Nightmare Continues
At just the age of 19, some in the football business are already writing off this prodigious talent, who was once seen as the second coming of the great Lionel Messi. There have been rampant accusations of too much being expected of the youngster and there is a worry that rather than being the next Messi he might instead be the next Freddy Adu. Remember him?
The big problem with Fati is that he has issues with his knees and hamstrings, with the latter of these flaring up at the start of the new year. Barcelona fans will be desperate to have him back in their starting line-up, but it remains to be seen if his body will play ball.
Sergio Ramos – Holidaying in Paris
Eyebrows were raised when Sergio Ramos refrained from signing a new deal at Real Madrid and went instead to join the Parisian billionaires. The move was particularly interesting seeing as it coincided with Lionel Messi joining the club – the two are hardly best friends.
However, rather than seeing weekly on-field spats between the two stalwarts of the world game, Ramos has been making more social media appearances than first team outings. This has hardly held the Parisians back in Ligue 1, with them running away with the competition, but it might hinder them from getting their mitts on the one trophy they value more than any other, the Champions League
Gareth Bale – Hitting Fairways and Greens More Than Nets
It’s hard to say if the reason for Gareth Bale playing so few games at Real Madrid is down to niggling injuries or if he just fancies playing golf more than he does football. Whatever the reason, his situation has long been completely farcical in the Spanish capital.
His contract is up in the summer and there are rumours that he will either retire or join a Welsh club like Cardiff or Swansea. No doubt he will continue to turn in top level performances for the Welsh national side.
Gareth Bale was a record signing for Real Madrid, but he has been increasingly frozen out of the team at the Bernabeu
Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson – Untimely Toon Injuries
Trippier has been a revelation since swapping Atletico Madrid for Newcastle, but his rich vein of form has been badly stymied by a broken metatarsal. This injury has come at a bad time for the Toon, who are also missing their star striker, Callum Wilson, who has been side-lined by a persistent calf injury. If the two players do not make it back in time, then they could find themselves playing in the Championship next season.
Zlatan Ibrahimović – A Legend Grinds to a Halt
Father Time catches up with everyone in the end, even when that person is Zlatan Ibrahimović. He has certainly proven to be a valuable part of Milan’s renewed push for the Serie A crown in 21/22, but injuries have seen his appearances greatly reduced in recent months. Could this be the end of the line for the great Swede?