Arsenal defender Pablo Mari, who is on-loan with Italian side Monza, was stabbed in an attack in a shopping centre in Milan.
According to reports in Italy, the incident occurred in a Carrefour in the Milanofirori di Assago shopping centre on Thursday evening at around 6:30pm local time. The 29-year-old was one of a number of people to be attacked by a man who was subsequently arrested by police.
The Gunners defender was taken to hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, where he is currently recovering. AC Monza president Adriano Galliani stated via the club's Twitter account: "Dear Pablo, we are all here close to you and your family, we love you, keep fighting as you know how to do, you are a warrior and you will get well soon!"
READ MORE: Arsenal defender Pablo Mari stabbed in supermarket attack in Milan
Here is the latest we know on the subject.
Monza release fresh statement on Pablo Mari condition
Monza have released the following statement concerning Pablo Mari's surgery to repair two muscles in his back: "The specialists of the General Surgery-Trauma Team of the Niguarda Hospital in Milan carried out this morning the surgery to reconstruct the two injured muscles on Pablo Marí's back.
"The surgery went well and a hospital stay of two or three days is expected. After the resignation, the player will be able to start a rehabilitation process.
"This type of muscle injury usually requires two months of rest before you can resume physical activities."
Pablo Mari breaks silence on stabbing incident
Pablo Mari will undergo an operation later today to correct a muscle injury in his back. It is not yet known how long the Spaniard will be out of action for, as per The Express.
He has since spoken to his manager at Monza, Raffaele Palladino and the club's CEO Adriano Galliani according to the Italian publication Gazzetta He said: “Today I had luck because I saw a person die in front of me.
"I was with the trolley with my child inside and I felt an excruciating pain in my back. Then that man stabbed another in the throat."
Monza director confirms store cashier casualty
In issuing a positive update on Mari’s health, Monza CEO Galliani also confirmed the devastating news that one of the workers involved in the attack has heart-breakingly passed away, as per The Mirror.
Speaking to TG2, the 78-year-old said: “Unfortunately, I received terrible news, the store cashier died. As for Pablo Marì he had a fairly deep wound on his back, a penetrating one, which however did not touch vital organs such as lungs or others. His life is not in danger. He certainly has problems but he should recover quickly despite some injured muscles.”
What has been reported in Italy
According to reports in Italy, the incident occurred in a Carrefour in the Milanofirori di Assago shopping centre on Thursday evening at around 6.30pm local time.
A 46-year-old man has been arrested and taken into custody after taking a knife from the shelves of the shop and attacking people, with six people hurt.
According to Calciomercato, the attacker was stopped by other customers in the shop before police arrived.
A statement released by the shopping centre read: "With regard to the events that occurred in the Assago Hypermarket on the evening of October 27, Carrefour Italia expresses its utmost closeness to the employees and customers involved in the attack and to their families.
"The company confirms that it immediately took action to alert the rescue and the police and to stop the attacker, who was taken into custody, and to ensure the proper conduct of the rescue operations.
"Representatives of the top management immediately went to the scene and are in close contact with the victims their families.
"Carrefour Italia also immediately activated a psychological support service for all employees directly or indirectly involved in the incident."
One witness told ANSA: "Now that we are far away we are calmer but we were really terrified, we did not understand what was happening, we saw people running away in tears."
Whilst another said: "We were at the bar and we thought it was a robbery because we saw some boys and a lady running…
"Then we saw more and more people with upset faces and we realized that something serious had happened."
Update on Mari's condition
AC Monza president Adriano Galliani stated via the club's Twitter account: "Dear Pablo, we are all here close to you and your family, we love you, keep fighting as you know how to do, you are a warrior and you will get well soon!"
In a further statement, Galliani added: "Pablo Mari is not in danger as his injuries are not life-threatening. We hope to see him back soon."
What Arsenal have said
Mikel Arteta initially said after the Gunners' game against PSV Eindhoven: "I just found out. I know Edu has been in touch with his relatives. He's in hospital but he seems to be ok."
The club then put out a statement, which read: "We are all shocked to hear the dreadful news about the stabbing in Italy, which has put a number of people in hospital including our on-loan centre-back Pablo Mari.
"We have been in contact with Pablo's agent who has told us he's in hospital and is not seriously hurt. Our thoughts are with Pablo and the other victims of this dreadful incident."
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