Author: Vishwajit Sawant
In a dramatic turn of events during Thursday night’s match between Athletico and Internacional at the Ligga Arena, young sensation Vitor Roque, who is currently second top scorer in Serie A, suffered an injury 10 minutes into the game. The 18-year-old striker collided with defender Nicoláslás Hernández, a former teammate, and left the pitch on a stretcher, causing a stir in the stadium.
Roque’s attempt to get up was futile, and he immediately felt pain in his right ankle. He was immediately replaced by Pablo, while anxious fans awaited news on the severity of the injury. Coach Wesley Carvalho, speaking about the situation, expressed hope that it could be a simple sprain, but stressed the need for a full medical assessment to determine the extent of the damage.
Vítor Roque was violently tackled and had to leave on a stretcher, in tears.pic.twitter.com/LYBl5cvXZr
– B24 (@B24PT) September 21, 2023
To add to the drama, Atlético fans turned their ire on Colombian defender Hernández, booing him resoundingly every time he touched the ball. Hernández, who had already worn the red-black shirt, left the pitch at half-time amid a hostile reception.
In Vitor Roque’s surprising season, he scored 20 goals and provided seven assists in 41 appearances for Athletico in 2023, making him one of the highlights of Brazilian soccer. With 11 goals in Serie A, he is one of the main candidates for a call-up to the national team, and fans are eagerly awaiting interim coach Fernando Diniz’s decision for the upcoming qualifiers against Venezuela and Uruguay on October 12 and 17.
While the medical team assesses Roque’s injury, the soccer world is holding its breath, hoping for a speedy recovery for this rising star on the Brazilian soccer scene.