AC MILAN STRIKER Antonio Cassano is in hospital after suffering a stroke, according to Italian news agency Ansa.
The striker has been having tests on his brain and heart over the past few days.
His Milan teammates have vowed to “play for him” in his absence, as they take on BATE Borisov in the Champions League tonight.
Coach Massimiliano Allegri expressed sympathy for the player, saying:
“Quite apart from the sporting element, what counts most is the human aspect and we’re all feeling sad.“Antonio was doing well and he was in good shape and I hope he’ll be back as soon as possible.”
In 2006, Luton defender Sol Davis suffered a stroke, but was back playing again within two months.
Numerous other footballers have also suffered from heart defects, with ex-Man City star Marc-Vivien Foé dying suddenly during an international fixture in 2003.
Getting another keeper in was a real kick in the teeth for someone who could of left earlier but showed loyalty. Hope he gets away sooner rather than later
He was faultless on Saturday and kept the score down. We could easily have been 4-0 down at half time. Not sure what poor Ronnie was smoking when he didn’t give him the Irish player of the match.
It is not nice that he has to speak out like this publicly. Liverpool haven’t treated him well at all.
I have little time for the opinions of Ronnie Whelan as a pundit, no doubt a wonderful player in his time. Of course both Kelleher and Ogbene were truly wonderful in a team showing little ability.
I cannot understand, how Scales was left on bench while O’Brien was chosen. I was scared because of his physical clumsy tackles, that the ref would reach for his red card. Knight was not selected to start, so I was amazed at the selected team to commence. O’Shea was not thinking very well when he submitted this line out to take the pitch. Idah needs to realise he is in a match and get out there and do some serious work. If not he will be a forgotten player very soon.
@David O’ Connell: totally agree. Think Kelleher has been shafted by Liverpool
@Daithi Mc Ghiollamhairtin: I doubt that, I think they have an agreement that he’ll go after this season and he’s just letting every other club know it in plenty of time, getting the bidding going nice and early, that’s why they have lined up another keeper and keeping him warm at another club in the meantime.
@Der Calnan: I meant more in the sense that I reckon he was told and had the legitimate expectation that he’d be Alison’s successor