Aaron Ochoa goes to surgery and begins recovery

According to MARCA, Aaron Ochoa has already undergone surgery after the injury he had been carrying in the right knee’s external meniscus. The operation took place on Monday, September 7, and although it was successful, he now faces a recovery period of several months, with his return depending on how he progresses over the coming weeks.

From nagging pain to surgery

The Hispano-Irish player had been managing issues in his knee throughout pre-season, adjusting his workload. While his progress allowed him to rejoin the group gradually, and last week he even completed a couple of training sessions with his teammates, the discomfort persisted. MARCA reports that Málaga initially tried to avoid surgery with conservative treatment, but ongoing pain ultimately led the player and the medical staff to choose an operation.

A tough loss for Juanfran Funes

The setback is a major one for Juanfran Funes, who had been counting on Ochoa for rotation in this season. At 19, the midfielder was expected to have an important role for Málaga—both as an option off the bench and in certain starting line-ups.

Málaga will have to adapt

The timing matters too because the club is still trying to finish assembling its squad. While sporting management works to add new players to strengthen the group, the coach will need internal solutions to cover for the absence over the coming matchdays. His return to action will depend on how the recovery evolves, per MARCA.