Nnadi’s risky move: choosing to skip surgery to return sooner

Setback and medical call

Tochukwu Nnadi, the Marseille midfielder, suffered a serious injury to his right knee during Sunday’s match against AS Monaco (2-0). He came on at half-time at the Stade Louis II and had to be replaced by Neal Maupay with around 15 minutes left.

Marseille has not publicly given details on the injury, but as RMC Sport reports, citing the player’s camp, the concern is a potential rupture of the cruciate ligaments. In any case, the medical tests have confirmed that it’s a significant problem.

The decision to avoid surgery

His agent, Timur Daguev, told La Provence that after Nnadi’s injury they spent several days discussing with doctors, the staff and his entourage to choose the best option. Daguev said many advised immediate surgery, which would be the safest route but would also mean being away from the pitch and the team for months.

Instead, Nnadi chose a different plan: to avoid an operation and try to come back as quickly as possible. “We know the risks… there could be pain, and it won’t be easy,” Daguev concluded, making clear the comeback timeline depends on how the knee responds.

Genesio’s trust also matters here. As RMC Sport notes, the coach has backed the youngster since the restart, even if he’s not yet considered a regular starter. Now, the next medical updates will determine whether this gamble pays off.