Hugo Ekitike thanked French fans on Thursday while he continues rehab from a torn Achilles tendon. The 23-year-old is already out for the rest of the season and the World Cup after a non-contact injury in Liverpool's Champions League quarterfinal against Paris Saint-Germain.
Hugo Ekitike and the France banner
Ekitike reposted a screenshot from 22 minutes into France's match against the Ivory Coast, where fans held a large banner reading “Courage Hugo.” He answered in French on his Instagram story: “Thank you so much for the support.”
He added: “Go Blues! I'm behind you!” That message carried a sharper edge because France will be without him at the World Cup, which begins in less than a week, while Liverpool also move on without a forward who had been part of a strong season.
Torn Achilles in Paris
The injury came in the second leg of Liverpool's Champions League quarterfinal against Paris Saint-Germain. Ekitike went down without contact and was stretchered off the pitch, a sequence that quickly turned into the season-ending diagnosis.
He later wrote on Instagram, “It’s hard, maybe even unfair… but I’m grateful this is happening to me here, among you,” and, “I’m not alone. Your strength and your love will be my driving force. See you again soon, Anfield.” The recovery from an Achilles injury typically takes around a full year, depending on severity, which puts the scale of the setback into focus for a player who is now facing a long return.
Thierry Henry on Ekitike
Thierry Henry said he knew straight away the injury was serious while watching the match. He also said Ekitike “had an outstanding season,” then added that the forward has already had to come back and reposition himself once in his career.
For Liverpool, there is no short-term replacement coming in. For Ekitike, the immediate task is the same one that followed the banner in France: keep the work going, keep the support close, and push toward a return that now sits far beyond this season.
