
Spain's Aitana Bonmati in hospital with viral meningitis days before Euro 2025
Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati is being treated in hospital for viral meningitis just days before the start of Euro 2025.
The 27-year-old Barcelona player, who has won the Ballon d'Or for the past two years, was absent for her country's 3-1 friendly win over Japan on Friday.
She posted a picture on Instagram of herself watching the match, which was played in the Spanish city of Leganes, from a hospital bed.
Euro 2025 kicks off on Wednesday, with world champions Spain set to begin their campaign a day later against Portugal in Bern.
National team head coach Montse Tome, whose side also face Belgium and Italy in Group B, told a press conference: 'Initially all the tests came back fine but the last one confirmed she has viral meningitis.
'The word is scary but the doctor tells me it's under control. She will remain hospitalised; we don't know the timeline of her recovery.
'She's an extremely important player for us and we will wait for her, no matter what, as long as we have to.'
Bonmati was a key member of the Spain squad which won the 2023 World Cup – following victory over England in the final – and the 2024 Nations League.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Chelsea join Man Utd in £45m Emiliano Martinez race as star's preference emerges
Manchester United have been linked to a summer move for Emiliano Martinez and the belief in South America is that he would prefer a switch to Old Trafford ahead of joining Chelsea Chelsea have been offered the chance to strike a £45million deal for Aston Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez. Villa are resigned to being forced to cash in on the World Cup-winning Argentine in a bid to ease fears over failing the Premier League 's PSR test and are aware that the Blues are in the market for a new No 1. Manchester United have been linked to a summer move for the 32-year-old former Arsenal shot-stopper and the belief in South America is that he would prefer a switch to Old Trafford. But United boss Ruben Amorim has other priorities to address this summer and will be unable to buy a new No 1 unless the Reds find a club willing to pay £35million for Andre Onana. And that has opened the door for Chelsea to step up their bid after Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen both failed to impress under boss Enzo Maresca. Martinez has a huge admirer at Stamford Bridge in the shape of assistant manager Willy Caballero. He has been exceptional during his six years at Villa Park and was hailed as the world 's best goalkeeper after excelling for Argentina as they prevailed in Qatar in 2022. Villa admire Royal Antwerp's highly-rated Senne Lammens, but there are a number of other clubs tracking the 22-year-old - including United. Villa need to sell to balance the books and are reluctant to lose rising England star Morgan Rogers. It is set to be a summer of big-money goalkeeper transfers. Newcastle are closing in on Burnley 's James Trafford despite seeing the Clarets put a £40million valuation on the England Under-21 international's head. Toon saw an £17 million bid for Trafford rejected a year ago - and their refusal to come up with the additional £5 million it would have taken to make the deal happen is now going to cost them. The Toon were hoping to pay closer to £30 million this summer, but the newly-promoted Clarets will have to pay Manchester City 20 percent of any profit they make on Trafford as part of the £15 million deal that took him to Turf Moor two years ago. Leeds are monitoring Newcastle's interest in Trafford because they have set their sights on taking England international Nick Pope from the Tyneside club to boost their own chances of surviving in the Premier League. Pope has now posted a message on Trafford's Instagram story saying 'see you soon'. Burnley have signed 21-year-old Max Weiss from German club Karlsruher, but manager Scott Parker will want a more experienced keeper if he loses Trafford to ambitious Newcastle.


Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Spain's two-time Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmati hospitalised before Euro 2025
Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati missed Spain's last friendly before Euro 2025 kicks off next week, having been taken to hospital after contracting viral meningitis Spain star Aitana Bonmati is being treated in hospital after contracting viral meningitis less than a week before the start of Euro 2025. Bonmati, 27, missed Thursday's training session before she was taken to a hospital in Madrid on Friday. The Barcelona midfielder was forced to miss Spain's final friendly before the tournament in Switzerland, as they beat Japan 3-1. The World Cup holders begin their campaign next Thursday, facing Portugal in Bern. Bonmati, who's won the Ballon d'Or for the past two years, shared a picture of herself on Instagram, as she watched her team-mates beat Japan from her hospital bed with a cannula in her arm. Spain manager Montse Tome provided an update on Bonmati, who helped Spain follow up their World Cup triumph in 2023 by winning the Nations League last year. "Initially all the tests came back fine but the last one confirmed she has viral meningitis," Tome, whose side also face Belgium and Italy in Group B, explained. "The word (meningitis) is scary but the doctor tells me it's under control. "She will remain hospitalised; we don't know the timeline of her recovery. She's an extremely important player for us and we will wait for her, no matter what, as long as we have to." Bonmati has earned 78 caps for Spain, scoring 30 goals. The Spanish football federation say that she'd been undergoing medical tests after suffering from a fever which failed to subside. Viral meningitis is caused by an infection and it's more common than the rarer bacterial meningitis. The NHS say that viral meningitis tends to get better within seven to 10 days and can often be treated at home. Who'll win Euro 2025? Give us your prediction in the comments section. Bonmati was part of the Spain team who beat England in the final of the World Cup two years ago and Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman has sent her best wishes. "First of all I hope she's alright and I hope she recovers well and that she can come back with the team and play, because everyone wants to see players like Bonmati," Wiegman said. "You want the best players from Europe being involved in tournaments, because that's exciting, that's what people come to watch - the best players from Europe. So I hope she will be involved and that she will get better soon."


BreakingNews.ie
an hour ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Spain's Aitana Bonmati in hospital with viral meningitis days before Euro 2025
Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati is being treated in hospital for viral meningitis just days before the start of Euro 2025. The 27-year-old Barcelona player, who has won the Ballon d'Or for the past two years, was absent for her country's 3-1 friendly win over Japan on Friday. Advertisement She posted a picture on Instagram of herself watching the match, which was played in the Spanish city of Leganes, from a hospital bed. Euro 2025 kicks off on Wednesday, with world champions Spain set to begin their campaign a day later against Portugal in Bern. Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati, right, in action against England in February (Zac Goodwin/PA) National team head coach Montse Tome, whose side also face Belgium and Italy in Group B, told a press conference: 'Initially all the tests came back fine but the last one confirmed she has viral meningitis. 'The word is scary but the doctor tells me it's under control. She will remain hospitalised; we don't know the timeline of her recovery. Advertisement 'She's an extremely important player for us and we will wait for her, no matter what, as long as we have to.' Bonmati was a key member of the Spain squad which won the 2023 World Cup – following victory over England in the final – and the 2024 Nations League.