The central midfielder returned to River as part of the 2023 reinforcements, yet his season began with a setback after suffering a fracture in his first friendly match that required surgery.
The start of the 2023 preseason posed challenges for River Plate. In the opening friendly of Martín Demichelis’s tenure, played on December 22 of the previous year against Unión La Calera, the club faced an alarming early moment: just six minutes into the game, Matías Kranevitter picked up a foul that left him badly hurt and sidelined.
WHAT INJURY DID MATÍAS KRANEVITTER SUSTAIN
According to the club’s medical report, Kranevitter suffered a broken right ankle. The injury required surgical treatment, which he underwent successfully on Tuesday, December 27.
Coach Martín Demichelis commented on the setback, expressing that it was a moment of great sadness because Kranevitter had trained at a high level. He noted that Kranevitter brings a sense of leadership and character to the squad, and the scene of him not getting up immediately hinted at something serious.
Unbelievable footage circulated showing the moment a strong kick from César Pérez in the River vs Unión La Calera friendly left Kranevitter with a broken right ankle. This incident drew widespread attention from fans and media alike.
Colo himself later shared in his social media that the situation was tough for him personally and for everyone who understands what the injury means. He added that his home and his people would help him through the recovery and that he would return stronger, driven by the support around him.
HOW LONG WOULD HE BE OUT AND WHICH MATCHES WOULD BE AFFECTED?
The rehabilitation began soon after the operation, with an initial expectation of around four months away from the pitch. As the process progressed, the timeline suggested a recovery that could align with that period.
Nearly three and a half months after surgery, the Tucumán-born midfielder reached a late stage of rehabilitation and, on Monday, April 10, trained with the squad for the first time since the injury, a milestone Demichelis had anticipated following the victory over Huracán on Sunday.
Despite the progress, he remained officially sidelined for a few more weeks. The coaching staff emphasized the need for his return during a demanding stretch of fixtures, underscoring that Kranevitter would be a valuable addition once fit.
In this context, Kranevitter returned to availability in the closing days of April and even showed readiness to be considered for selection in high-profile clashes such as the Superclásico scheduled for early May.
Source: Goal