Bayern Munich and Spain midfielder Thiago Alcantara's return date from a serious knee injury remains unclear, according to the German club's sporting executive Matthias Sammer.
Thiago, 23, tore a ligament in his right knee in late March against Hoffenheim and was initially ruled out for six to eight weeks. However, the former Barcelona starlet suffered a setback and needed to undergo a second surgery in May, only two days after returning to the squad, and has not played since -- missing out of the World Cup with Spain.
"We can't respectably say how long this will take. We can't give an exact prognosis," Sammer told kicker. "The development is very regrettable."
Reports had suggested that Thiago could be back in team training as early as September but, on Thursday, kicker called that date "utopian."
Kicker also reported that Thiago's cortisone injection treatment in Barcelona has become a touchy subject between manager Pep Guardiola, who opted for treatment in Spain, and club doctor Muller-Wohlfahrt, who is against such treatment.