Inter defender Nelson Rivas explains how he knew the knee injury he had sustained was serious.
The Colombian was stretchered off during the match with Bologna after a 50-50 challenge with Marco Di Vaio.
“It was a very painful injury,” he told the official Inter website. “During a tackle my knee turned and the ligament snapped.
“These are things that happen in football, but it is a real shame, because this setback came at a time when I was feeling great and really wanted to play.”
Tests showed Rivas snapped the collateral ligament in his right knee and he has already undergone surgery.
He will require absolute rest for two weeks before beginning the rehabilitation programme and is not expected back until well into 2009.
There was more bad injury news for Inter, as Patrick Vieira pulled up during the warm-up for last night’s World Cup qualifier.
The France midfielder was meant to be in the starting XI against Romania, but abandoned the field after suffering a calf twinge.
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