Marco Asensio undergoes surgery and will miss three months

Marco Asensio will be out of action for the next three months. Fenerbahçe announced that the Mallorca native underwent arthroscopic surgery in Madrid to treat a cartilage injury in his left knee. The discomfort he had been carrying in that joint for weeks finally led to an operation that puts an early end to his season with the Turkish side.

• Marco Asensio underwent arthroscopic surgery in Madrid for a cartilage injury in his left knee.
• Fenerbahçe expects him to be sidelined for about three months.
• Since September 2025, Asensio has played 46 matches with 15 goals and 15 assists.
• He had already missed the last three games, including two Champions League league-phase fixtures.
• Dutch centre-back Nathan Aké suffered a muscle strain and will be out for three weeks.

The knee injury that stopped Marco Asensio

The former Mallorca, Real Madrid and Espanyol player had been dealing with discomfort in his left knee for several weeks. At 30 years old, the Spanish playmaker was struggling to find consistency at Fenerbahçe, where a previous muscle injury and recurring joint problems had prevented him from performing at the level he showed during his first season in Istanbul. The decision to go under the knife aims to permanently solve the cartilage wear that was affecting his daily routine.

Three months out during a demanding schedule

The Turkish club has set the recovery period at approximately three months. That timeline rules Asensio out of upcoming league fixtures and leaves Fenerbahçe without him for a significant stretch of their Champions League campaign. The operation in Madrid comes at a delicate moment, as José Mourinho's side needs points in the league phase of the continental tournament and will be without one of its most creative attacking talents.

His Fenerbahçe journey since 2025

Asensio arrived at Fenerbahçe in September 2025 from Paris Saint-Germain for a fee of 7.5 million euros. Since then he has played 46 official matches across all competitions, recording 15 goals and 15 assists that made him a key figure in his first season. In January 2026 he lifted the Turkish Cup with the Istanbul club, strengthening his bond with the supporters.

This season his involvement has dropped sharply. A muscle injury first and knee issues later have limited him to just eight appearances in official matches, including five in the Champions League qualifying phase played over the summer. In the Turkish Süper Lig he has only managed two goals, a figure far removed from the influence he had during the previous campaign.

Champions League: out against Aston Villa and Slavia Prague

The Spaniard has already missed Fenerbahçe's last three matches. Among them are two league-phase fixtures in the Champions League: the trip to Aston Villa, which ended in a heavy 6-0 defeat, and Tuesday's 2-2 draw against Slavia Prague. Interestingly, Asensio spent time on loan at Aston Villa between February and June 2025, a spell in which he made a positive impression in the Premier League.

September denial and the eventual operation

In early September, several Turkish media outlets reported that Asensio would need surgery. The player responded with a video shared through the club's official channels to deny those reports: "Estoy aquí para desmentir que me tengo que operar. No suelo entrar en este tipo de fake news, pero cuando juegan con mi salud y con la ilusión de los hinchas del Fenerbahçe tengo que intervenir. Desmiento totalmente lo que han comentado. Esto ya poco a poco sobre el campo y pronto estaré con el equipo."

Months later, reality has caught up. The wear on his left knee did not improve, and arthroscopic surgery in Madrid became the only way to get him back to a competitive state. Fenerbahçe's medical statement confirms that the procedure focused on the damaged cartilage, an issue that typically requires long rehabilitation periods before returning to action.

Nathan Aké adds to Fenerbahçe's injury concerns

Asensio's absence is not the only headache for the coaching staff. Dutch centre-back Nathan Aké, signed last summer from Manchester City, suffered a muscle strain during Tuesday's match against Slavia Prague. Imaging tests carried out by the club's medical team detected a moderate strain with edema in the back of the right thigh. The defender is expected to be out for around three weeks.