Doctor: “Never seen anything like it”
Sanchez is out for up to a year after Marcelo’s horror foul
8/3/2023 9:28 am
A terrible foul happens in the Copa Libertadores. Former Real star Marcelo kicks his opponent unintentionally, but with serious consequences. Marcelo is shocked, the doctor who treated him is stunned. Videos of the foul are provided with a warning on YouTube.
Argentinian footballer Luciano Sanchez is out for up to a year after a horror foul by former Real Madrid star Marcelo in the Copa Libertadores. The foul pushed the knee so far out of its natural position that the thigh bone was almost completely disconnected from the fibula, said Argentinian doctor Alejandro Ronconi.
“In 23 years as a doctor, I’ve never seen anything like it,” Ronconi said on D Sports Radio on Wednesday: “The knee has to be repaired in several surgeries. The recovery takes ten to twelve months.” Videos of the foul were tagged with a warning on YouTube. The game in the South American counterpart to the Champions League ended 1-1, the second leg will take place in Rio de Janeiro next week.
Marcelo, who has been playing for Brazilian top club Fluminense since February, caught Sanchez’s stretched leg with an open sole and full force in the game against Argentinos Juniors. On and off the field there was sheer horror at the sight of the foul. “Today I had to experience a very difficult moment on the field. I accidentally injured a fellow professional. I wish him the best possible recovery,” Marcelo wrote on social media.
Argentinos Juniors replied: “We are rivals, not enemies” and thanked Marcelo and Fluminense for their concern. Fluminense coach Fernando Diniz said after the game Marcelo didn’t deserve the red card. The incident was an “unfortunate event”.