After colliding with striker Gonzáles in yesterday's match, which saw Mais Querido beat Junior Barranquilla 2-1 at Maracanã, Diego Alves suffered a fractured collarbone and will undergo surgery this Saturday (25). The head of the red-black Medical Department, Doctor Márcio Tannure, provided an overview of the procedure and the goalkeeper's recovery during a press conference in the Victorino Chermont Press Room, at Ninho do Urubu.

"He suffered a trauma during the game and underwent tests immediately, which confirmed our suspicions of a fracture in his right shoulder. It's an injury that requires surgical treatment. He will undergo surgery tomorrow at Samaritano Hospital in Barra da Tijuca," he commented. "The expected return time is eight weeks, so we expect him to be able to resume normal activities next year," he added.

Diego Alves will have to complete several steps before returning to ball-playing. In addition to surgery, physical therapy sessions will be necessary for the athlete's full recovery. To maintain his fitness, lower-limb exercises will be performed after the stitches are removed, according to the head of the Medical Department.

"Obviously, every fracture has its complications, as does every surgery. It's a fracture that, in some cases, could even be treated conservatively, but we opted for surgery to try to avoid any possible negative consequences of the surgery or the fracture's healing," he said. "We're talking about a shoulder joint, so physical therapy is required afterwards to ensure there's no movement deficit," Tannure said.

"Initially, his arm will need to be immobilized. We believe that, if everything goes well, within fifteen days of the stitches being removed, he will be able to work his lower limbs on a bike or in the pool, but with his shoulder still immobilized," he concluded.