Bitter news for Destiny Udogie and Tottenham Hotspur: The race for fourth place and the upcoming European Championship are over for the young left-back
The most direct source was Udogie himself. The 21-year-old spoke out from his hospital bed with a snapshot with his mother on Instagram, announcing that “an injury brings my season to a premature end”.
The Athletic had reported that the left-back of Premier League fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur (one game and three points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa) had suffered a muscular injury in his left thigh during the week, which the club confirmed in a statement on Sunday morning. As a result, Udogie has now had to undergo an operation, which appears to have been successful.
In their press release, Spurs also wrote that they do not expect one of their shooting stars, who arrived from his home club Hellas Verona in 2022 but was initially loaned to Udinese Calcio for another season, back until the upcoming pre-season. This would mean, and underpin corresponding media reports, that the Italian international will miss the European Championship in Germany this summer
Debut under Spalletti
Udogie, who has already made 28 appearances as Spurs’ regular left-back in the current Premier League season, recording two goals and three assists, made his debut for the Squadra Azzurra under current Italian national team coach Luciano Spalletti last October. The tall, dynamic left-footer has made a total of three international appearances so far. More will probably only be added after the upcoming European Championships.
In Udogie’s place, Inter Milan’s Federico Dimarco is likely to start the tournament as Italy’s first left-back