2024-08-28 17:06:08
The scenes involving Juan Manuel Izquierdo in the Copa Libertadores were shocking. Now the hospital has given another update – which is cause for concern.
The scenes were shocking last week: Central defender Juan Manuel Izquierdo of Nacional Montevideo staggered and fell over in the 84th minute of the second leg of the Copa Libertadores round of 16 against São Paulo FC. He fainted and had to be taken off the pitch in an ambulance. It later became clear that the player had suffered cardiac arrhythmia on the pitch. He had been substituted on for the second half.
Since then, Izquierdo has been in the intensive care unit at the Albert Einstein Hospital in the Brazilian metropolis. After some optimistic news, the hospital has now had to explain again: The 27-year-old is still in critical condition, hospital doctors said on Monday.
The last message was already worrying: “Patient Juan Manuel Izquierdo, who has been hospitalized since August 22, 2024 at 8:55 p.m., was examined again on Sunday, the 25th. The examination revealed a progression of brain damage and an increase in intracranial pressure,” the treating hospital previously announced.
His club Nacional then confirmed the bad news and further explained that Izquierdo is currently dependent on “mechanical ventilation”.
Now comes another sobering update. Uruguayan media reported that Izquierdo’s wife, two-year-old daughter and parents were with him in the hospital, along with club representatives. Unfortunately, the doctors’ latest statements will not give them much encouragement.