Pablo Mari set to miss 3 months of action after stabbing

AC Monza defender Pablo Mari is recuperating after a stabbing while at a shopping center in Italy. The defender was with his wife and child when the incident occurred. He just joined the Serie A club on loan from Arsenal in August.

“Today I had luck, because I saw a person die in front of me,” Mari told La Gazzetta dello Sport. While the 29-year-old center back was stabbed, he was reportedly conscious all the way to the hospital. His injuries are not life threatening and he has already had successful surgery on the wound.

Mari explained the horrific incident from his hospital room. “I was in the trolley with my child inside and I felt an excruciating pain in my back,” said the defender. “Then, that man stabbed another in the throat.”

Pablo Mari involved in stabbing

Six people were attacked in total at the market and one person died as a result of their injuries. The perpetrator was soon disarmed and apprehended by police. Former Napoli player Massimo Tarantino was reportedly one of the heroes that helped contain the attacker.

Monza chief executive Andrea Galliani has claimed that Mari will be out of action for a few months. “I fear it’ll be three months before he can be back on the pitch as he can start training after two and put in a big effort as he makes progress,” Galliani told Sky Italy. “In sporting terms, unfortunately it’ll be more than two months until he’s back on the pitch.”

Galliani also said that the player’s physical condition helped save his life. “What I’ve understood from the doctor is that if he hadn’t had strong muscles in his back, the knife probably would’ve gone in more deeply and he would’ve died,” stated Galliani. “Being an athlete certainly helped him in terms of having strong muscles that stopped the knife.”

Because of the terrible attack, Monza have asked for their game against Bologna on Monday to be postponed. A decision by the league has not yet been made official.

PHOTO: IMAGO / Marco Canoniero