Mitrovic facing up to three months out after knee ligament injury at Al Rayyan

Al Rayyan striker Aleksandar Mitrovic is expected to be sidelined for between two and three months after suffering a knee ligament injury in training, the Qatari club have announced.

The 31-year-old Serbia international sustained damage to the medial ligament of his left leg following a heavy collision during a session on Thursday, just as Al Rayyan’s preparations for the new season were gathering pace.

In a statement, the club said: “تعرض لاعبنا الكسندر ميتروفيتش لاصابة في الرباط الجانبي للرجل اليسرى، اثر التحام قوي خلال تدريبات الفريق”.

Al Rayyan confirmed that medical examinations have ruled Mitrovic out for a prolonged spell, with the forward now undergoing an intensive treatment and rehabilitation programme overseen jointly by the coaching and medical staff. The club say the plan is designed to ensure a full recovery and to accelerate his return as much as possible within the projected timeframe of roughly eight to 12 weeks.

Key signing sidelined

Mitrovic joined Al Rayyan in September 2025 from Al Hilal and has quickly become a central figure in the side’s attack.

Since his arrival, he has made 14 appearances for the Qatari club, scoring seven goals and providing four assists, underlining his status as one of their most influential players. His absence is likely to be a significant setback for new head coach Luca Cattani as he shapes his team for the coming campaign.

The forward is widely regarded as one of the most high-profile acquisitions in Qatari football history, having arrived on the back of prolific spells in both Saudi Arabia and England.

Prolific record in Saudi Arabia and England

Before moving to Al Rayyan, Mitrovic enjoyed a highly productive stint with Al Hilal. He scored 68 goals in 79 matches for the Saudi club and also contributed 15 assists, helping to cement his reputation as one of the most effective strikers in the region.

Prior to his time in Saudi Arabia, Mitrovic was a standout performer for Fulham in English football. Across 206 appearances for the London side, he found the net 111 times, establishing himself as one of the Championship’s most dominant forwards and a key figure for the club in the Premier League.

Pre-season disrupted

Al Rayyan are currently holding their pre-season training camp in Spain under Cattani’s leadership. As part of their build-up, they played a friendly against English side Rochdale, which ended in a 3-3 draw.

Mitrovic’s injury has come at a crucial stage of that camp, with the coaching staff now forced to reshuffle their attacking options while the Serbian continues his rehabilitation away from full training and match action.