Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been taken to hospital for emergency surgery after being diagnosed with acute appendicitis on the eve of AC Milan’s Serie A clash with Napoli
Ex-Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been rushed to a Naples hospital after suffering intense abdominal pains ahead of an AC Milan game.
Loftus-Cheek was due to kick-off for Milan against Napoli in Serie A on Sunday night, but fell sick at the team hotel on Saturday evening following their journey to southern Italy.
Sky Sports Italy reveals that he’s set for an appendix removal after being diagnosed with acute appendicitis upon reaching the hospital.
Napoli, who are second in the league and managed by Loftus-Cheek’s former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte, are hosting Milan at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona at 19:45 tonight.
The Englishman made his move from Chelsea to Milan back in June 2023, costing £18.5million. He’s netted 10 goals and provided three assists in 62 games for the Italian heavyweights, featuring 22 times this season alone, reports the Mirror.
The 29-year-old was expected to start, filling in for suspended midfielder Yunus Musah, after training with Milan during the international break. He travelled with the squad from northern Italy to the south before realising something wasn’t right.
He reported his discomfort to the club’s medical team and was rushed to a local hospital for tests, where he was diagnosed with appendicitis. This condition occurs when the appendix becomes inflamed and can be life-threatening if it goes unnoticed and the appendix ruptures.
Milan have had a disappointing run in Serie A this season, currently sitting ninth, 14 points adrift of second-placed Napoli, ahead of Sunday evening’s match.
They kicked off the season under the leadership of Paulo Fonseca, who was replaced by ex-Porto manager Sergio Conceicao in December.
Loftus-Cheek earned his last cap for England back in 2018 when he was selected for Gareth Southgate’s 23-man squad for the 2018 World Cup. He remains hopeful of impressing Thomas Tuchel to secure a return to the Three Lions squad.