Racing Santander have confirmed that defender Alvaro Mantilla ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during their La Liga meeting with Real Madrid at the weekend.
Mantilla, 26, was injured in the first half and appeared visibly distressed as he received treatment on the pitch. Medical staff later carried him away on a stretcher.
Supporters at Campos de Sport applauded the Spanish defender while he was attended to before he was taken off.
Racing announced the diagnosis in an official statement released on Monday, following further medical examinations. The club has not provided any additional details about the expected timetable for Mantilla’s recovery.
The injury has also led to renewed criticism of Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho in Spain, with attention focused on the circumstances in which Mantilla was hurt.
It is not known whether Mourinho will comment publicly on the controversy as Racing begin to assess the impact of the defender’s injury.
