La Liga outfit Racing Santander have early this week announced a significant setback on the personnel front. This comes amid confirmation that Álvaro Mantilla has suffered a ruptured ACL.
Defender Mantilla was for his part forced off during the first-half of this past weekend’s La Liga meeting between Racing and Real Madrid.
Amid evident distress, the 26-year-old was stretchered from the field of play to widespread applause at the Campos de Sport. And as per an ensuing statement released on Monday, following a round of medical tests:
‘Racing defender Álvaro Mantilla has suffered a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Mantilla will undergo surgery in the coming days.’
Word of the serious nature of Mantilla’s setback has since seen backlash against Real Madrid head coach José Mourinho spread across Spain once more.
As per Goal, upon the Racing star going to ground during Sunday’s clash, the Portuguese tactician was spotted ‘performing his famous “diving into the pool” gesture, widely read as casting doubt on whether Mantilla was genuinely hurt and hinting that he was feigning or exaggerating’.
It now remains to be seen if Mourinho feels it necessary to issue a response to the situation.
Conor Laird – GSFN
