Duvan Zapata returned from a thigh strain against Cagliari, but he quickly subbed off with a more severe injury. He is visiting with Finnish tendon specialist Sakari Orava in Turku. The situation is rather bleak, Sky Sport reports.
The center-forward is mulling over having surgery. However, the timetable would not be much shorter even with a conservative rehab plan. He would be out for eight-to-ten weeks and would return only for the final matches of the season, the site informs.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Zapata will miss at least a couple of months because of the new injury. It is not a relapse of the one he came back from, although it is in the same area. He will undergo further evaluations and also consult physiotherapist Carlos Pedrosa in Sevilla, who assisted him in the past. He already had the same surgery when he was playing for Sampdoria.
Atalanta are considering bringing in a free agent, both publications add. They have made a decision yet, and it could hinge on their next results and on how they fare in Europa League. The top options would be Diego Costa and Graziano Pellè. The Italian veteran would be easier to fit in their Serie A list.
La Dea purchased two offensive weapons, Jeremie Boga and Valentin Mihaila, in January, but they are wingers. They sent youngster Roberto Piccoli, who could have filled in for Zapata following the injury, on loan to Genoa. Luis Muriel is currently their only pure striker.