Málaga CF is facing a severe attacking crisis at the start of the season after confirming a long-term injury to striker Julen Lobete. The forward suffered a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament in his left knee during training on Thursday, an injury that will keep him out for the entire current campaign. Sport.es first reported the story.
The information, first reported by Sport.es, details that both Lobete and his teammate Aarón Ochoa, who has an external meniscus injury in his right knee, will undergo surgery. The club issued a statement regarding Ochoa: "El jugador será operado el próximo lunes 7 de septiembre por el Doctor Manuel Leyes en Madrid". Ochoa's recovery time is estimated to be approximately three months.
How do the injuries affect the Málaga 2026 squad?
With these two setbacks, Málaga CF loses two attacking players right at the start of the competition. This situation exposes a lack of depth in the forward line and forces the coaching staff to seek urgent solutions. The professional squad, which you can view on our squad page, currently has all 25 permitted spots filled, complicating any new signings.
The team has a demanding schedule ahead and needs to find answers quickly. Their next La Liga fixture is a home match against Athletic Club on November 29th, a game already listed in our fixtures. By then, Ochoa could be in the final phase of his recovery, but Lobete will still be sidelined.
Can Málaga CF sign a player now?
The summer transfer window in La Liga closed this past Tuesday, which severely limits the options for the Málaga CF-based club. However, league regulations offer a possibility. Since Lobete's injury will last more than four months, Málaga CF could use up to 80% of his salary within the salary cap to register a new player. To do so, they would first need to free up a squad spot, potentially by deregistering Lobete himself.
The board and sporting department are evaluating whether it is better to move now in the free agent market or wait until the January window. According to the report from La Opinión de Málaga, cited by Sport.es, among the names being considered as potential reinforcements are experienced attackers without a club like Ante Rebic, Iván Sánchez, and Adnan Januzaj.
What does Málaga need to achieve promotion to the top flight?
Overcoming this initial injury crisis is critical for any promotion aspirations. Losing two forwards at once hampers the team's offensive capacity from day one. Squad management and the possible addition of a free agent become key decisions to avoid falling behind in the early stages of the league.
The club confirmed the procedure for Lobete, stating that "el futbolista se someterá próximamente a una cirugía para solucionar la dolencia y comenzar lo antes posible con su proceso de recuperación". Meanwhile, the team must prepare for the start of the season with available resources, seeking the best tactical combination to cover these significant absences. The collective performance in these opening matchdays, which can be followed in our standings section, will set the tone for the campaign. The first major test comes on November 29th against Athletic Club at La Rosaleda.
