Rafael Toloi was stretchered off just nine minutes into Atalanta’s Europa League match with Bayer Leverkusen and could also miss Italy’s World Cup play-offs.
The defender suddenly pulled up in pain clutching his thigh in the opening moments of the Round of 16 tie.
Europa and Conference Liveblog: Bayer Leverkusen-Atalanta and Roma-Vitesse
He sustained the injury, seemingly to the flexor or hamstring, while making a clearance.
Although Toloi was stretchered off the pitch, he was spotted back on his feet after the substitution with Berat Djimsiti and was able to walk back to the locker room.
It is bad news not only for Atalanta, but also the Italy squad, as the Brazil-born defender was going to be in Roberto Mancini’s side for the World Cup play-offs.
They will face North Macedonia, the winner of that game going on to play either Portugal or Turkey for a spot at the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
Toloi is 31 years old and has eight caps for Italy under his belt since his debut in March 2021.
#UEL, #BayerLeverkusenAtalanta | Dura solo otto minuti la partita di #Toloi: brutte notizie per Gasp (e anche per Mancini)https://t.co/xSJwuWZhjd
— Gianluca Di Marzio (@DiMarzio) March 17, 2022
Tbh he’s not a big loss. Call up Gianluca Mancini from Roma instead.
Always 6-12 players out injured. Without fail. You’d think they were playing rugby or ice hockey.
I swear what is it with Italian teams they have so many key players missing any time these games come up.