Conte has gallbladder removed
TOTTENHAM Hotspur manager Antonio Conte yesterday underwent surgery to remove his gallbladder, the Premier League club said in a statement.
Conte, 53, has been diagnosed with cholecystitis, or inflammation of the gallbladder, and will take a break to focus on his recovery, the club said, without specifying when he would return.
“Antonio Conte recently became unwell with severe abdominal pain,” Tottenham said yesterday.
“Following a diagnosis of cholecystitis, he will be undergoing surgery to remove his gallbladder today and will return following a period of recuperation.”
Conte was in the dugout at the weekend for Tottenham’s 3-0 FA Cup fourth round win at Preston North End.
Spurs return to league action on Sunday when they host champions Manchester City.
They are in fifth place in the standings with 36 points from 21 games.
Meanwhile, Tottenham have signed Spanish right-back Pedro Porro from Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon on loan until the end of the season with an obligation to make the deal permanent in the summer, the Premier League club said on Tuesday.
Porro became the north London club’s second signing of the January transfer window after they also brought in winger Arnaut Danjuma on loan from Villarreal of Spain.
Manchester City signed Porro in 2019 but immediately loaned him to another La Liga club Real Valladolid for one season before he joined Sporting on a two-year loan deal.
In 2022, Sporting triggered Porro’s buyout clause and signed him on a permanent deal.
Porro joined Tottenham as they look to strengthen the right side of their defence and fight for a top-four Premier League finish and Champions League football next season.
Porro’s arrival followed the departure of right-back Matt Doherty to Atletico Madrid after the Irish player agreed to terminate his contract with Tottenham.