Dante undergoes surgery as Nice sporting director adresses 41-year-old’s future | OneFootball

AFP are reporting that Dante (41) has successfully undergone surgery on a meniscus injury. The Brazilian is expected to miss around six to eight weeks of competition.

Nice announced on Monday that the club captain would undergo surgery on a meniscus injury, suffered against RC Strasbourg Alsace on 24th November. Whilst the Brazilian managed to finish that encounter, he has not played since. The former Bayern Munich centre-back has now undergone surgery, which took place in Lyon on Tuesday. He is expected to return within two months, however, his participation in the rest of Le Gym’s UEFA Europa League, which concludes against Bodo/Glimt on 30th January, is now in doubt.

However, despite the setback, Nice sporting director Florian Maurice doesn’t believe that Dante will call time on his career at the end of the season. “I’m not sure that it is his last season. He is passionate about football; he loves it,” began Maurice, speaking to L’Équipe.

He added, “He loves playing and I think that as long as his body allows him to be at 100%, he will continue playing. That is certain.” Dante’s contract with Les Aiglons expires at the end of the season but, fitness permitting, it may not be his last at the Allianz Riviera. Prior to his injury, the Brazilian had announced that he would be retiring in 2026, regardless.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle