Paris Saint-Germain manager Christophe Galtier has confirmed that centre-back Presnel Kimpembe will miss the remainder of the season with the injury he picked up on Sunday evening.
Kimpembe, who had only just returned from an Achilles injury, managed just 16 minutes of Sunday’s 3-0 win over Marseille before being stretchered off with a repeat of the issue.
“Presnel Kimpembe has ruptured his right Achilles tendon,” a club statement read. “He will undergo surgery to repair the tendon in the coming days.”
PSG declined to put a timeframe on Kimpembe’s return but Galtier was significantly more downbeat when asked for an update on the centre-back after the game.
“Unfortunately, he’s seriously injured and he’ll be out for the remainder of the season,” the manager confirmed. “He has excruciating pain to his Achilles’ tendon. We believe it’s serious.”
The injury likely brings an end to a catastrophic individual season for Kimpembe, who has been battling fitness issues all season.
The 27-year-old suffered a hamstring injury in September which kept him out for months and even forced him to miss the World Cup, and he would manage just two games back before picking up his first Achilles injury.
This latest blow ensures Kimpembe will end the season with just 15 appearances across all competitions, 11 of which came as a starter.
Galtier is left with just Marquinhos and Sergio Ramos as senior centre-backs, while midfielder Danilo Pereira has dropped back to help out this season. 17-year-old El Chadaille Bitshiabu, who stands at 6’6, has also filled in for Kimpembe already this season.
