During the preparatory training last August, Real Madrid's steel defender Tybalt Gauthier suffered a serious injury to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of his left knee, a blow that left the 31-year-old facing a full season of absence. Faced with such a challenge, Gauthier has prepared himself psychologically and made it clear to the club that he will not be representing the Belgian national team in the final week of the UEFA Europa League, which is due to begin in June next year, and will instead dedicate himself fully to his rehabilitation and training in order to return to the field of play in the best possible condition next season.
Gauthier has been in recovery since his surgery, and it was rumored that he is expected to make a comeback at the end of the season, and may even play in the UEFA Europa League. However, according to an exclusive disclosure by Spanish newspaper Marca, Gauthier has conveyed a clear intention to Real Madrid: he will be fully committed to rehabilitation and training this summer, rather than playing in the upcoming UEFA Europa League.
