France: Montpellier to start title defence without captain Ezequiel Palacios

Montpellier will begin the defence of their French championship title without one of the most important figures in their squad.
Club captain Ezequiel Palacios is set to miss the opening months of the season after undergoing surgery on his arm.
The procedure, which had been planned by Montpellier’s medical staff, was successfully completed recently.
The Argentine international will now begin a rehabilitation programme under the supervision of the club’s medical and performance teams, with his recovery to be monitored on a daily basis.

According to the club, Palacios is expected to remain sidelined for several months.
The club is nevertheless targeting his return for the period leading into the European campaign, with Montpellier scheduled to make their first appearance in the CEV Champions League at the beginning of December.
The absence of Palacios represents a significant setback for the reigning French champions.
Since joining Montpellier in 2020, the Argentine has established himself as a key member of the team and one of its most reliable offensive options, while also taking on the captaincy and becoming an important reference point within the group.
His contribution was particularly valuable during Montpellier’s championship-winning campaign last season.
Palacios finished as the team’s second-highest scorer with 348 points and formed an effective partnership with Tomas Lopez, helping Montpellier secure the French title.
His absence will therefore leave a sizeable gap in the starting lineup as the club prepares for another demanding domestic and European season. Montpellier will have Lukas Demar among the options available to cover the position.
The 24-year-old joined the club this summer from Cannes and is expected to take on a greater role while Palacios completes his rehabilitation.

For Montpellier, the immediate priority will be to navigate the opening months of the season without their captain, while ensuring that Palacios can make a full recovery in time for what could be a crucial European chapter of the campaign.

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