Borussia Dortmund midfielder Konstantinos Karetsas, 18, was stretchered off the pitch during the first half of their Champions League clash against Villarreal
Borussia Dortmund star Konstantinos Karetsas was rushed to hospital after being carried off the pitch during their Champions League match against Villarreal.
The Bundesliga team disclosed that Karestsas experienced a“circulation problem”. The 18-year-old Greek international collapsed without any contact from an opponent, taking a seat on the grass.
He signalled for medical assistance, having just moments earlier dribbled and passed the ball without issue. Karetsas, who moved to Dortmund from Genk in the summer, was making his fifth appearance for the club.
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The distressing scenes will have undoubtedly caused significant concern, but the German side have assured that he is faring as well as can be expected under the circumstances.
In a statement, Dortmund said: “Konstantinos Karetsas had to leave the pitch in the game against Villarreal due to circulation problems.
“Kosta is doing as well as can be expected given the circumstances, and he is on his way to the hospital for further examinations.”
There was evident worry on the sidelines, with ex-Dortmund star Mats Hummels, currently serving as a pundit on Prime Video, expressing his unease, reports the Mirror.
“When the doctors did not look at his legs at all and were only focused on his upper body, it sent a shiver down my spine,” he said. “We would not wish something like that on anyone. Those are really horrible scenes we had to see there.”
Karetsas was substituted for Arsenal loanee Ethan Nwaneri just 27 minutes into the game in Dortmund.