Man Utd's De Ligt has successful back surgery

Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt underwent successful surgery this week to address a persistent back injury that has sidelined him since late November, the club confirmed Thursday. The 26-year-old Netherlands international will miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup and is not expected to return until the early stages of the 2026-27 season.

De Ligt last played in United's victory over Crystal Palace on November 30, making 14 appearances earlier in the campaign before the injury struck. He has since missed 24 matches, including all games under current manager Michael Carrick, who took over from Ruben Amorim. Initial assessments described the issue as minor, with Amorim anticipating a quick return for the subsequent home match against West Ham. However, repeated rehabilitation efforts, including a recent return to training last month, failed to resolve the problem.

"Matthijs de Ligt has undergone successful surgery to address a back injury," United said in a statement. "Having diligently worked throughout his rehabilitation process, the decision was made that a corrective procedure was the best course of action."

De Ligt shared his disappointment on Instagram from his hospital...