Phoenix Suffer Major Setback as Portuguese Star is Ruled Out for the Season

The Wellington Phoenix have announced that on-loan midfielder Francisco ‘Chico’ Geraldes will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League season due to a knee injury.

After joining the club on loan in February, Geraldes’ season has come to an unexpected end following a meniscus injury in his left knee, which now necessitates surgery.

In his five appearances since arriving on loan from Malaysian champions Johor Darul Ta’zim FC, Geraldes managed to score a goal and provide an assist before his season was abruptly truncated.

“It’s incredibly disappointing as Chico has provided us with a different dimension in our gameplay,” commented Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano.

“We were beginning to establish a bit of continuity and were looking quite dangerous as we moved forward.

“That being said, we can still achieve success without Chico, but it does hinder our preparations.”

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Although his loan is set to expire at the end of the current season, Italiano has indicated he has seen enough from the 29-year-old to consider extending the player’s time with the club.

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“I believe he would be a fantastic addition, not only to our squad but to the A-League as a whole.

“His skill set is evident; he’s an exceptional dribbler, very composed under pressure, unafraid to take on defenders, and capable of scoring goals.”

“I would love to have him with us next year. If it’s feasible, we’ll certainly pursue it, but unfortunately, it’s not as simple as that.”

He continued: “There’s still much to be resolved, but my intention is to make it happen if possible.”

Currently sitting eleventh on the league ladder, the Phoenix are set to face Newcastle Jets in Round 25 of the Isuzu UTE A-League as they seek to end an eight-match winless streak.

A potentially beneficial factor for the Phoenix is that Newcastle has recently announced that head coach Rob Stanton will be departing the club at the season’s conclusion.