"The most serious injury"

At the age of 27! Valencia player faces the end of his career

Mouctar Diakhaby suffered a serious knee injury against Real

(Bild: ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Valencia central defender Mouctar Diakhaby suffered a serious injury in the match against Real on Sunday and is now fearing for his career. Specialists are calling it the "most serious injury a footballer can suffer to the knee". Nevertheless, the 27-year-old wants to fight his way back. 

The fans fell silent, the players on the pitch threw up their hands in horror. In the 2-2 draw between Valencia and Real Madrid, Valencia defender Mouctar Diakhaby suffered a serious knee injury in a collision with Aurelien Tchouameni. The atmosphere was depressing. 

The 27-year-old was taken to hospital and examined. "Unfortunately, it's a very serious injury," Dr. Juan José Lopez Martinez told Estadio Deportivo. This means that the central defender's soccer career is in doubt.

Gloomy prognosis
"There is a risk that he will no longer be able to play soccer because the cartilage is damaged. It's a structure that doesn't regenerate," Martinez continued. The respected doctor Enrique Gastaldi also confirmed to "SER Deportivos Valencia": "It is a very rare injury. It is the most serious injury a footballer can suffer to the knee."

Four or five ligaments are torn and the prognosis is bleak: "With an injury like this, I first have to make sure that the patient can walk and that there are no more problems." The Guinean international will be out for at least nine to twelve months - and may not even return to the pitch.

However, Diakhaby is not worried about that. He is determined: "The battle will be long, but I'm ready for it and will do everything I can to get back on the pitch as quickly as possible and even stronger."