Real Madrid star Marco Asensio could miss the whole of the 2019-20 campaign, after suffering torn knee ligaments in the pre-season friendly game against Arsenal.
The Spain international went down under a challenge with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang during the second half of the International Champions Cup game in Washington – having scored for Real moments before.
A tearful Asensio was taken off on a stretcher and immediately driven to hospital, leaving manager Zinedine Zidane to concede his worry for the 23-year-old Spaniard.
“We’re a little worried (by Asensio),” admitted Zidane. “It’s the knee. He went straight to the hospital to get tested and see. But it looks bad.
“It’s the bad thing of the day for us. because we lose a player and we are a little touched, yes.”
Real Madrid have now confirmed Marco Asensio suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament against the gunners and have confirmed the full extent of the damage.
The club has released an official statement on their website, which reads: “After the tests performed on our player Marco Asensio by the Real Madrid Medical Services he has been diagnosed with a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament and the external meniscus of his left knee.
“The player will be surgically operated in the next few days.”
Marco Asensio was visibly distressed while being attended to by Madrid’s medical staff, banging the ground several times with his fists before covering his face to hide his frustration.
But questions were asked after the match of whether it could offer Dani Ceballos a way back into the Madrid side – with the Spain Under-21 on the verge of a loan move to Arsenal.
Asked whether Asensio’s injury could affect the move, Unai Emery said: “I don’t know. Really our target in the match was not to take injuries and they have maybe a big injury with Asensio, it’s bad news for them and also for us.
“I don’t know if it can change something.”
