Holger Badstuber and the FC Bayern Munich have been struck by another severe injury blow. The centre-back fractured an ankle on Saturday in a practice ground accident during the final training session prior to today’s Bundesliga trip to Augsburg. Badstuber received immediate medical attention before being taken to hospital for a final diagnosis and surgery to repair the damage. The 26-year-old will be side-lined for three months.
It was in November 2015 that Badstuber made his most recent comeback in the Bundesliga meeting with Stuttgart after 200 days out with an injury to his left thigh. The latest setback marks another chapter in the injury misery suffered by the Bayern youth product, which began in December 2012 when he tore a cruciate ligament.
The defence of the FC Bayern already had to cope with the injuries of Jérôme Boateng, Mehdi Benatia and Javier Martínez. In today’s Bavaria derby against the FC Augsburg Serdar Tasci and Joshua Kimmich will take their places.
In other FC Bayern Munich news, rumour has it that Pep Guardiola might be sacked before the end of the current season, attacker Franck Ribery might return after injury in today’s match in Augsburg and the club has issued a statement regarding false reports in German media about Arturo Vidal:
FC Bayern München has demanded that “SPORT BILD” and “Kicker” cease making false allegations concerning Arturo Vidal. Both magazines had claimed that Vidal's remuneration comprises about “€8 million net per annum.” Both “SPORT BILD” and “Kicker” have delivered a cease-and-desist letter, conceding that this allegation is false.
“SPORT BILD” had further claimed that during the training camp, Vidal “left the team base on several occasions and appeared to be under the influence of alcohol on his return.” Also in this case both FC Bayern München and Arturo Vidal requested “SPORT BILD” to cease making false allegations and received a cease-and-desist letter from “SPORT BILD.” “SPORT BILD” has thereby conceded that this allegation is equally false.
FC Bayern München AG chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge commented: “The media are currently spreading many rumours and much speculation about FC Bayern. In the future FC Bayern will vigorously pursue legal action against false and malicious allegations to protect the club, its players and the coaching staff.”
