Wolves’ Austrian striker, Sasa Kalajdzic has suffered his third ACL injury in five years whilst playing on loan in the Bundesliga for Eintracht Frankfurt, according to the German club.
Sasa Kalajdzic Tears His ACL Again
Austrian Striker Dogged By Brutal Injuries
The 6’7″ Austrian International went down clutching his right knee after just ten minutes of play against SC Freiberg, and on February 19 the German club confirmed:
“Sasa Kalajdzic suffered a rupture of the cruciate and lateral ligaments in his right knee in Sunday’s away game against SC Freiburg and will be out indefinitely. Eintracht Frankfurt wish Kalajdzic a good and speedy recovery.”
This is the third time in five years that the towering forward has suffered the same injury. The injury first occurred in 2019, in a pre-season training camp for VB Stuttgart, for whom he had just signed. After many months out, he returned to fitness and scored 23 goals in 57 appearances.
Read More: Wolves Lose ‘Phenomenal’ Star to Hamstring Injury Indefinitely
This impressive return tempted the Premier League outfit, who paid Stuttgart £15 million for his services towards the end of the 2022 summer transfer window, and placed him on a five year contract, with an optional 12 month extension.
He made his debut in old gold and black just three days after signing, in a 1-0 win against Southampton, but was substituted at half time with what was later identified as yet another ruptured ACL.
Missing the rest of the 2022-23 season, the gigantic striker returned the squad at the beginning of 2023-24, with Gary O’Neil at the helm. Despite making 11 appearances and scoring twice off the bench, the club decided to send him to Germany on loan, partially in consideration of the fact that his partner was due to give birth to their first child.
Read More: Wolves Defender Has Contract Terminated
What Will His Injury Mean For Wolves?
NEW: Sasa Kalajdzic has suffered a serious knee injury, Frankfurt have confirmed.
‘a rupture of the cruciate and lateral ligaments in his right knee’ – according to the German club.
Feel for the striker. That is devastating. #wwfc https://t.co/Sw4ehKHAxl
— Liam Keen (@LiamKeen_Star) February 19, 2024
The fact that the striker was loaned out in the first place was a close thing. The club anticipated bringing in a striker, and initially would only have let Kalajdzic leave if a replacement was found.
However, either out of overconfidence from the club, or genuine generosity, the Austrian’s personal circumstances were given priority in affording him a move regardless of any incoming activity at Molineux.
Sporting Director, Matt Hobbs said:
“The human side comes into it, because Sasa’s wife is due to give birth later this month.”
“He’s a great guy around the place. He’s frustrated, but he trains hard every day with a smile. When that happens, and Sasa has the Euros and the baby coming up, delaying while we look for a replacement wouldn’t have been fair.”
Had he gone on to have a strong half-season in the Bundesliga, it is possible he could play for the Premier League side again, but that looks less certain now.
It remains to be seen whether he will begin rehabilitation in Germany or back in Wolverhampton. The club will be very cautious returning him to the pitch when he does recover, and his transfer value will have taken a serious hit. Any money recovered from a future sale would likely feel pyrrhic, and the scouting team and medical department’s due diligence may well be questioned.
