Navarro no-go for Barça
Tuesday, December 17, 2002
Article summary
FC Barcelona will be without left-back Fernando Navarro for the rest of the season.
Article body
Cruciate ligament
Navarro snapped the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during Barcelona's league defeat by Sevilla FC on Sunday. He will undergo surgery this week but will be out of action for five or six months.
First choice
The 20-year-old played all bar one of Barcelona's ten UEFA Champions League games before the winter break, missing the Matchday 8 win against Newcastle United FC.
Costly absence
Navarro's absence leaves coach Louis van Gaal with only three fit defenders - Carles Puyol, Frank de Boer and Philippe Christanval - for this weekend's Primera División match at RCD Mallorca. Barcelona lie 13th in the table after the 3-0 loss against Sevilla.
