Spain’s Unai Simon says he is playing through wrist injury, will have surgery after Euro 2024

Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon has confirmed he is playing through an injury and will undergo wrist surgery after the European Championship.

Simon says the injury does not worry him or prevent him from playing or training as normal.

The 27-year-old saved a penalty during Spain’s opening game of the Euros, pushing Bruno Petkovic’s effort away with both hands before the striker’s rebound goal was ruled out due to an encroachment.

“I can confirm I am going to undergo surgery after the Euros,” Simon said on Monday. “The time I’ll be sidelined… we will speak about it later.

“It’s something I haven’t given too much importance to. It does not keep me away from playing, I can train normally, it does not worry me. When we finish the Euros, hopefully on July 15, we’ll talk more about this.”

Simon has been Spain’s No 1 since 2020 and has won 42 caps for his country.

He emerged as Athletic Bilbao’s first-choice goalkeeper during the 2019-20 season, after previous No 1 Kepa Arrizabalaga had joined Chelsea for a record £72million ($91.2m).

Simon has played 195 times for Athletic and last season won La Liga’s Zamora trophy, awarded to the goalkeeper who has the best games-to-goals conceded ratio.

Following their 3-0 win over Croatia, Spain are back in action on Thursday when they face Italy. They finish their group stage against Albania next Monday.

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