Drs. Pedro Luis Ripoll and Mariano de Prado are directing the medical plan for Raúl Guti, the Real Zaragoza midfielder who is on loan from Elche CF. The player is slated to undergo knee surgery at the Ripoll y De Prado Sports Clinic FIFA Medical Center of Excellence in Murcia, with support from Quirón Murcia Hospital as part of the care pathway.
Raúl Guti left the pitch in tears after the incident.
The 27-year-old midfielder from Zaragoza faced a setback on the final day of the winter transfer window, during the Maño club’s match against Sporting de Gijón at La Romareda.
Raúl Guti: “The last months with Elche were difficult”
Medical teams diagnosed a ruptured patellar tendon in the right knee, a serious injury that will require surgical intervention. Rehabilitation is anticipated to take around six months, with a careful and structured program to restore strength, stability, and mobility. The prognosis suggests that, barring unforeseen developments, Raúl Guti will not be able to participate in the current season and is expected to return to Elche, where his contract was extended before the loan to Zaragoza.
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Experts from the Ripoll y De Prado team, including renowned Finnish physician Lasse Lempainen, are highlighted for their work in treating muscle injuries affecting players across Spanish and international football. The medical group has built a reputation for handling high‑level sports injuries with a comprehensive approach that blends surgical precision with advanced rehabilitation protocols.
Ripoll y De Prado Sportclinic FIFA Medical Center of Excellence has become a global reference point in football surgery. In recent months, players from various leagues and clubs have sought out its expertise, reinforcing the clinic’s standing within the football community. Notable football organizations and players have benefited from its guidance and treatment plans, underscoring the practice’s influence on contemporary sports medicine.
The facility maintains partnerships with major Spanish hospitals such as Quirónsalud Hospital in Murcia and Alicante, as well as Ruber Internacional Hospital in Madrid. A clinic operates on the ground floor of the Martínez Valero stadium in Elche, illustrating the clinic’s close integration with football venues and professional teams and its capacity to coordinate seamless care within the sports ecosystem.