Injured Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike has taken the drastic step of pretending football no longer exists as he battles back from a horrific Achilles injury that wrecked his World Cup 2026 dreams. The 23-year-old Frenchman suffered the blow during Liverpool's Champions League quarter-final clash against Paris Saint-Germain in April.
Ekitike's Injury and Recovery
Subsequent tests confirmed he had ruptured his Achilles tendon, forcing surgery that will rule him out for the remainder of the calendar year. The setback was particularly cruel for Ekitike, who had been hoping to force his way into France's World Cup squad following an impressive goalscoring season for the Reds.
According to French outlet L’Equipe, the forward has been left in “immense pain” in the months since the injury and, in an effort to protect his own mental health, has pretended that football “ceased to exist”. The approach appears to be paying off, with Liverpool said to be pleased with the progress he has made so far in his recovery.
Taking to social media after his injury blow was confirmed, a downbeat Ekitike wrote: “It’s hard, maybe even unfair. But I’m grateful this is happening to me here, among you. I’m not alone.”
Liverpool's Striker Crisis
Replacing Mohamed Salah has been Liverpool's top transfer priority since former Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola arrived at Anfield. The Reds have been linked to a string of wingers ahead of the new season – including Yohan Diomande, Bradley Barcola and Rayan. But attention has shifted to the striker department, where injuries and player departures have left the club alarmingly short of options.
Former Reds boss Arne Slot spent big last summer but struggled to get the best from his new recruits, with record-breaking signing Alexander Isak missing much of the season through injury. Iraola will be hoping for more luck than his predecessor, and, with some signings of his own, could quickly turn Liverpool back into title contenders this coming campaign.
Darwin Nunez Return Rumors Denied
With Liverpool sweating over the long-term absence of Ekitike, supporters were briefly handed what appeared to be a shock solution – the return of former fan favourite Darwin Nunez. Reports emerging from Uruguay claimed the Reds were preparing to re-sign the 27-year-old as a free agent, with an official announcement pencilled in for after his country’s World Cup campaign.
The rumour quickly gained traction on social media after respected Uruguayan journalist Martin Charquero told his followers on X that Nunez was on his way back to Anfield, prompting excitement among some Liverpool supporters. But the reaction has been very different behind the scenes, with club insiders telling the ECHO they were baffled by the suggestion.
Nunez’s representatives have also privately rebuffed the developments as inaccurate. The speculation was particularly surprising given that it is less than a year since the Uruguay international left Merseyside to join Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal. Nunez notched up 143 appearances and 40 goals in all competitions during a three-year spell at Anfield, having joined from Benfica in 2022 for an £85 million fee.
