"It doesn't look good": Leipzig's Ouédraogo faces a long layoff

National team coach Jürgen Klopp will almost certainly have to do without Assan Ouédraogo for his first roster announcement. The 20-year-old RB Leipzig player had to be substituted after 35 minutes of the 5-0 win over Hamburger SV due to a shoulder injury. The incident occurred during a tackle with Albert Grönbäk, and the midfielder may be sidelined for weeks. Klopp plans to announce his roster for the upcoming international matches on Thursday.

“I do believe it’s the same injury,” said Leipzig coach Martin Demichelis. Ouédraogo had been sidelined for the entire month of August during preseason with a capsular injury in his right shoulder. It appears the injury has now flared up again. “It doesn’t look good,” said Demichelis. “We need him. He’s an incredible talent, both for Germany and for our club.”

Cautious Return

Demichelis emphasized that the medical staff had given the green light for him to play. “He was ready to play. We waited until he was healthy,” said the Argentine. Ouédraogo had played for half an hour in Como on Thursday and was in the starting lineup against HSV. Prior to that, he had already been training fully with the team.

Since his arrival in Leipzig in the summer of 2024, the talented player—who came up through Schalke’s youth system—has been repeatedly set back by injuries. His total time on the sidelines since July 2024 has already exceeded 380 days, with his knee often being the source of the problem. Surgery may now also be an option for the Leipzig player regarding his injured shoulder.