Alphonso Davies’ Agent Blames Canada Staff for Star’s ACL Injury

Alphonso Davies' season has come to an abrupt and heartbreaking end after Bayern Munich confirmed that the left-back suffered a torn ACL in his right knee. The injury, which will sideline him for "several months," occurred during Canada’s 2-1 win over the United States in the Concacaf Nations League third-place match.

The fallout from the injury has been swift, with Davies’ agent, Nedal Huoseh, openly criticizing Canada’s handling of the situation. He claims that Davies was “pressured” into playing against the U.S. despite not being fully fit. “Alphonso was not 100% after the Mexico game, and it was planned that he was not going to start against the USA,” Huoseh said in a statement. “As a captain, I feel he was pressured to start the game by the coach. Alphonso is not the kind of guy to say no in those moments. He ended up playing, and look what happened. Canada Soccer needs to do a better job managing these players, in my opinion.” 

Canada Soccer quickly fired back, calling the agent’s claims “untrue.” “We want to express our full support for our Men’s National Team captain, Alphonso Davies, as he recovers from this unfortunate injury," said Canada Soccer spokesman Paulo Senra in a statement to ESPN. "Phonzie’s strength and resilience match his world-class talent, and we all look forward to fully supporting him during his recovery. Canada Soccer’s coaches and experienced medical staff are true professionals and have always prioritized player safety and well-being. Anything suggesting otherwise is untrue." 

The injury is a massive blow not just for Davies but for Bayern Munich and the Canadian national team. Bayern were counting on the 24-year-old for a crucial run-in, including a Bundesliga title race and a Champions League quarterfinal clash with Inter Milan. "Phonzy will get all the support he needs on his way back," said Bayern’s sporting director, Max Eberl. 

To make matters worse for Bayern, defender Dayot Upamecano has also been sidelined with a knee issue and will miss several weeks. Bayern’s Sporting director, Max Eberl said, “We will also follow Upa closely in the coming weeks and assume that he will be available again soon. Our squad is strong and will compensate for these absences." With Davies out long-term, Bayern's depth will be tested as they try to maintain their six-point lead over Bayer Leverkusen at the top of the Bundesliga. They face St. Pauli this weekend before a huge Champions League showdown with Inter Milan on 8th April. 

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